Club manager held over shisha

Dec 16, 2018

It is alleged that Police in conjunction with the Uganda National Health Consumers Organisation (UNHCO) conducted on operation in which Nguse and two of his customers, Kenneth Wasswa and Amir Tumusiime, who were found smoking shisha were arrested.

SMOKING  SHISHA  CLUB  LAW

Mukono chief magistrate Juliet Hatamba has remanded to Kauga Prison an Eritrean National Robel Nguse on charges of being in possession and trading in shisha.

The prosecution team, led by Olivia Kiconco told court that Nguse, who is the manager of Casablanca Night Club located near Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono town was arrested during the night of October 19.

 



It is alleged that Police in conjunction with the Uganda National Health Consumers Organisation (UNHCO) conducted on operation in which Nguse and two of his customers, Kenneth Wasswa and Amir Tumusiime, who were found smoking shisha were arrested.

 



However, Nguse pleaded not guilty to the charges and asked for a court bail. But the prosecutor, Kiconco rejected Nguse's plea on grounds that he jumped the Police bond which was given to him from Mukono Police and that the two sureties whom he presented were not substantive.

Hatamba, the Mukono Chief Magistrate passed criminal summons to Wasswa and Tumusiime who were arrested at Nguse's night club, but also jumped the police bond.

 



Moses Talibita, the UNHCO legal officer, said according to the Tobacco Control Act 2015 (TCA) which became operational on May 17, 2016, sale, smoking, promotion and importation of shisha, electronic cigarettes and kuber, were banned.

He said that according to the TCA, smoking is not allowed in offices, public areas like night clubs, bars, toilets, lifts, court buildings, Police and Prison stations, inside any roof, health and education facilities, places of worship, among others.

 



He said, smoking must be conducted 50 metres away from the above listed places. Talibita highlighted that a person below 21 years of age is not allowed to be involved in any tobacco related activities including sale, transportation and consumption.

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