Nile Breweries Limited on Thursday launched a campaign dubbed “Mind Your Drink” to fight against the sale and consumption of illicit alcohol in Uganda at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi.

According to David Valencia, the NBL Managing Director, the harsh economic conditions and the down-trading impact of COVID-19 have resulted in the formal beer industry losing market share down to 35.5%. 

A report from Euromonitor International says that a chunk of 65% of the market share in Uganda is neither registered nor certified and does not pay taxes but thrives on corruption between the regulators and the business community dealing in illicit industry jobs. 

Government loses revenue close to sh1.7trn according to Euromonitor International, a market research database which provides data and analysis on industries and consumers. 

The campaign also follows the death of 14 people after allegedly taking “City 5”, a local potent gin produced by City 5 distillers in Ayivu division of Arua city. 

According to Onapito Ekolomoit, the Legal and Corporate Affairs Director UBL, who is also the Chairman of the Uganda Alcohol Industry Association (UAIA), the campaign will mainly focus on creating public awareness about the dangers of illicit alcohol 

Onapito Ekolomoit, the Legal and Corporate Affairs Director NBL and Chairman of the Uganda Alcohol Industry Association (UAIA), at the launch of the campaign. (Photo by Nicholas Oneal)

“It calls for all of us to join the fight against this scrupulous trade,” he said at the joint partnership with UAIA, Uganda Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Uganda Police Force and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). 

According to UAIA, 19 people died of illicit alcohol in 2019, making the 14 who died recently a reason to be concerned. 

Charles Seguya, the UNBS Certification officer listed 11 (eleven) certified beverage categories that fall under vodka and gins, beer and whisky Kombucha among others that contain more than 0.5% categorized as alcohol. 

“The consumers should know what they buy, because hygiene, labelling, weighing and packaging are key to standards. Most of the potable spirits fall under illicit products not certified by UNBS,” he warned.