Priest calls for hiked tax on alcohol

The Moroto Catholic Bishop Damiano Giulio Guzzetti has tasked government to consider raising taxes on alcoholic beverages to help fight binge drinking in the country.

He said the low prices on liquor makes it cheaper for people to drink excessively.

Guzzetti added that the government needs to set a minimum unit price for all alcoholic drinks in the country so as to impact on alcoholism.

"Let the tax be tripled so that a sachet of waragi can go for shs2000 unlike sh500," he said.

Citing Karamoja, Guzzetti said this would save lives, reduce hospital admissions, sway crime hence have a health population in the region.

The bishop made the remarks at Naoi Catholic church, where 450 youths received a sacrament of confirmation in Moroto district.

Guzzetti challenged the Christians to follow and keep the authorities given to them by God so as to defeat the bad habits.

"The sacrament of confirmation should help us to choose what is right before God," he said.

Guzzetti encouraged the graduands to enrich themselves everyday with the gospel saying the word of God will help people all over the world to follow what he expects of mankind.

On marriage, the bishop emphasized the need for Christians confirmed on the sacrament of matrimony saying sometimes Karimojong marry 10 women, an issue that is unacceptable.

"This is not right before God," he observed.

In conclusion, Guzzetti said 2016 was a year of mercy as declared by Pope Francis in November last year.

"We should therefore forgive one another and this is the importance of the Holy Spirit," he noted.