Local gin tainted - Standards body
MOST of samples of crude waragi (local gin), which were confiscated by the Police countrywide in the last few months, have been found highly adulterated.
By Conan Businge
and Hope Mafaranga
MOST of samples of crude waragi (local gin), which were confiscated by the Police countrywide in the last few months, have been found highly adulterated.
A statement released by Uganda National Bureau of Standards shows that many samples of the waragi had 11.5% to 14.35% of methanol, yet the acceptable maximum limit is 0.05%.
The bureau stated of the sampled waragi brands, only Monark extra had the right quantity of methanol.
The bureau named adulterated brands as Soft waragi, Coffee Spirit, Bond Whisky, Signature Vodka, Goal Vodka, Sunny Gin, Pander Gin, Beckham Gin, Royal Vodka, Officer Cane Spirit and Leading Waragi.
According to the statement, the gin samples were taken from deceased people’s homes.
The manufacture and sale of sachet waragi was banned last September by the health ministry, after the poisonous alcohol had killed many. Since the ban, 108 people had died from consuming local gin.
Meanwhile, the state minister of primary health, James Kakooza, has revealed that the ministry has allocated sh10m to Kabale district, to educate residents against crude waragi.
The trade and industry ministry is set to release a policy on the manufacture, packaging and sale of crude waragi. The trade minister, Kahinda Otafiire, said the new policy would ensure a balance between the production of spirits as an economic activity, and the safety of the consumers.
He added that the policy would also stipulate harsh penalties for people who deal in toxic spirits.
He advised people to drink only spirits licensed by the national bureau of standards.
Additional reporting by Goodluck Musinguzi and Ben Okiror
and Hope Mafaranga
MOST of samples of crude waragi (local gin), which were confiscated by the Police countrywide in the last few months, have been found highly adulterated.
A statement released by Uganda National Bureau of Standards shows that many samples of the waragi had 11.5% to 14.35% of methanol, yet the acceptable maximum limit is 0.05%.
The bureau stated of the sampled waragi brands, only Monark extra had the right quantity of methanol.
The bureau named adulterated brands as Soft waragi, Coffee Spirit, Bond Whisky, Signature Vodka, Goal Vodka, Sunny Gin, Pander Gin, Beckham Gin, Royal Vodka, Officer Cane Spirit and Leading Waragi.
According to the statement, the gin samples were taken from deceased people’s homes.
The manufacture and sale of sachet waragi was banned last September by the health ministry, after the poisonous alcohol had killed many. Since the ban, 108 people had died from consuming local gin.
Meanwhile, the state minister of primary health, James Kakooza, has revealed that the ministry has allocated sh10m to Kabale district, to educate residents against crude waragi.
The trade and industry ministry is set to release a policy on the manufacture, packaging and sale of crude waragi. The trade minister, Kahinda Otafiire, said the new policy would ensure a balance between the production of spirits as an economic activity, and the safety of the consumers.
He added that the policy would also stipulate harsh penalties for people who deal in toxic spirits.
He advised people to drink only spirits licensed by the national bureau of standards.
Additional reporting by Goodluck Musinguzi and Ben Okiror