In Kiryandongo joints, minister Balaam tests proposed alcohol policy
Some residents said restricting alcohol sales until 3:00 pm would encourage people to work instead of spending the entire day in bars.
Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara interacting with locals enjoying their favourite local brew, malwa. (Photos by Lawrence Mulondo)
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Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara received a spirited reception in Bweyale, Kiryandongo district, after making an unannounced stop at several drinking joints where residents were enjoying their favourite local brew, malwa.
The minister, who was travelling from West Nile, where he had spent several days on his anti-corruption crusade, turned the stop into an impromptu “people’s parliament”, asking drinkers for their views on a proposal to have alcohol sales in Uganda begin after 3:00 pm.
The proposal, which has already generated mixed reactions across the country, received a surprisingly warm reception from some malwa enthusiasts.
Some residents said restricting alcohol sales until 3:00 pm would encourage people to work instead of spending the entire day in bars.
One man, found comfortably seated at a drinking joint, supported the idea but wondered how some people managed to finance their daytime drinking.
“If people are drinking throughout the day, where do they get the money to buy the alcohol?” he asked.
‘When will it start?’
However, not everyone was ready to give up daytime drinking without a fight.
One woman at the drinking joint immediately asked the minister when the proposed policy would take effect.
When Barugahara asked why she was so interested in the date, she explained that residents wanted to make the most of the time remaining before the policy came into force.
In other words, the countdown to the last daytime drink may already have begun.
Others urged the minister to consider people who work at night, arguing that they should be allowed to drink during the day when they are off duty.
The excited residents also asked that the proposed restrictions not apply at weekends, which they described as their main opportunity to relax after a hard week's work.
Malwa, meals and governance
The minister was also surprised to learn that some women at the drinking joints prepare meals for their families at the same premises during the day before carrying the food home in the evening.
But the conversation was not all about alcohol.
Seated around a malwa pot with the residents, Barugahara clarified that the 3:00 pm alcohol proposal was still under discussion and was being presented in good faith.
“We want you people to get Parish Development Model money and work to contribute to the development of your country,” he told them.
He added that local governments would be expected to develop by-laws governing drinking joints and ensure that they meet basic standards.
“We don’t want drinking points with no restrooms. We should also ensure that the water used to make local brew is boiled to avoid causing health problems for citizens,” he said.
‘Work first, drink later’
Barugahara said the government's aim was to increase productivity and encourage Ugandans to participate in economic activities before enjoying their leisure time.
“We want to increase productivity. We want you people to contribute to the workforce and, after work, go and drink all you want. The law is not in bad faith,” he said.
He said the government's broader aspiration was to have a poverty-free and healthy population and urged residents to participate in government development programmes.
The minister's proposal first made headlines last week when Ugandans woke up to news that he had suggested bars across the country should open for business at 3:00 pm.
The suggestion immediately divided public opinion, with some welcoming it as a way of boosting productivity, while others questioned whether government should decide when Ugandans can have their first sip.