Artists launch campaign against tobacco use

By Noah Jagwe                                 

Several Ugandan artists have joined hands to fight the use of tobacco to save the young generation from the effects associated with smoking.

The artists with the help of a social enterprise, Text To Change (TTC) have formed a web page dubbed: “Wall of Fame” where MPs, radio personalities, actors and journalists will urge children to desist from tobacco use.

“These are the people who the young generation looks up to as role models . We want them to use their platforms to change the behaviour and practices of the youth towards tobacco use,” Patrick Mujjuka, a radio presenter explained.

Mujjuka said artists are struggling to have a tobacco-free environment.

Artists; Ruth Wanyana, Sam Gombya and his wife Sophie Gombya among others want parliament to expedite the enactment of relevant laws to save the country from the economic and health related side effects associated with the tobacco use.


Daniel Kadobera, ministry of health Epidemiologist is wiorried about the growing number of people using tobacco.
He noted that school going girls smoke as their male counterparts.

Dr, Possy Mugyenyi said over 600 out the 700 chemicals contained in tobacco cause cancer-related diseases.

The worst affected body parts when a person smokes are the heart, lungs and brain, Dr Mugyenyi said.