Arua district bans production and sale of alcohol

The Arua district local government has banned the consumption, sale and production of potent gin packed in sachets in the district.

The move, according to the local authorities, is aimed at reducing the increased cases of Gender Based Domestic Violence and the low levels productivity among the people in the district.

Wilfred Amayo, the clerk to Arua district council said the Local Government Alcohol Control Bill 2016 has been approved by the council to regulate the consumption of alcohol in the district.

"This Kaveera (sachet) waragi has affected the lives of our people especially the men who are supposed to be productive in society. You move around the trading center and you find people drinking as early as 7:00am instead of working," Amayo said during an interview with New Vision.

The move to ban the sale and consumption of packed potent gin in the country has been well received by Ugandans including the Parliament.

Last month, the speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga allowed Dokolo county MP Okot Ogong to table a motion seeking to ban the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, sale and consumption of waragi in sachets in the country.

In 2016, the government through the ministry of trade gave waragi manufacturers up to September last yearto stop the production of alcohol in sachets.

Besides Arua districts, other districts such as Gulu have already passed by-laws banning the sale and consumption of sachet waragi as well as regulating the hours of consumption of alcohol.

Genesis Alema Dria, the LC5 vice chairperson Arua district noted that about 75% of the people in the district are involved in alcohol related activities such as trade and consumption.