Adventist Church wants sachet waragi banned

The Archbishop of the Adventist church in Uganda, Pr. Dr. Daniel Matte

By Martin Kitubi and Brenda Abeine

The Sevenths Day Adventists (SDA) church in Uganda has asked government to close factories producing sachet (waragi) in and local brew to reduce deaths.

The Archbishop of the Adventist church in Uganda, Pr. Dr. Daniel Matte questioned why the Government hasn't closed factories producing deadly gin.

 "We call for urgent response on the matter otherwise people will continue to die, these factories need to be closed and government should set up stricter regulations on its consumption," the Archbishop said.

He made the remarks at a press conference in Kampala.

This follows reports where six people died in Kawempe, Wakiso district after consuming local brew in a bar.

Subsequently several people in Kampala and Wakiso districts were admitted in critical conditions at both Kirudu and Bombo hospitals after consuming potent gin.

Authorities at the hospitals told New Vision that, victims suffered a terrible headache; subsequently the victims lose sight and die in less than a week.

This further propelled the Government analytical laboratory experts and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to take samples and determine what sparks of the deaths.

He also called upon religious leaders to preach unity and molarity to reduce on immoralities in the country.

The Assistant president of East and Central Africa Division SDA church Dr. Joel Okindoh from Kenya warned Ugandans against burning Bibles adding," We were baffled to hear that Bibles were burnt; no one has a right to burn it or condemn its usage."

In April, 2017 the media reported that Pastor Aloysius Bugingo of House of Prayer ministries located in Makerere, Kikoni Kampala City burnt several Bibles claiming that it contained misleading information.

According to the media, Bugingo condemned edited versions of the Bible like The King James's Version, the New Testament; the Good News Bibles had some verses tempered with.

UNBS reacts
When contacted, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) spokesperson Barbara Kamusiime said they are yet to establish what caused the deaths and the respective sources of the of the gin will be  closed.

Kamusiime said the penalty for dealing and operating in illegal alcohol is sentence for three to six or fine between sh10m and sh100m or both.
She further warned Ugandans against taking alcohol that has not been satisfied and packed by a licensed company.

"All products good for consumption have standard and quality mark from UNBS, and therefore we recommend that Ugandans become vigilant on the markings before they consume." Kamusiime explained.