Published on 31/07/2024
The Uganda Police Force backed a proposal to restrict alcohol sales hours urging Parliament to add higher bar taxes to curb their spread and promote home consumption.
James Ocaya, Deputy Inspector General of Police, presented the proposal to Parliament’s Joint Committee of Health and Trade. The committee is reviewing the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, introduced by Sarah Opendi (Tororo DWR) last year in August.
The bill proposes that alcohol sales in Uganda be restricted to 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays and 12:00 noon to midnight on public holidays and weekends. Exceptions would be made for licensed tourist camps, nightclubs, theaters, fetes, bazaars, or trade shows. Violators could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of 20 million Ugandan shillings, or both.
Ocaya suggested that higher taxes on bars would discourage their rampant establishment and promote at-home drinking. However, some members of parliament like Richard Gafabusa (Bwamba County), questioned the practicality of enforcing these time limits noting that the bill regulates sales but not consumption times.
Ocaya emphasized that the bill is crucial for reducing alcohol-related crimes, citing the Uganda Police’s Annual Crime Report 2023, which links alcohol abuse to various crimes, including domestic violence and traffic offenses. Yet, Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti (Kole North) requested detailed statistics to substantiate these claims.
In addition to supporting the sales time limits, Ocaya proposed banning the sale of alcohol to uniformed law enforcement officers and extending this to officers on duty. This proposal aimed to enforce discipline within the security forces. Other MPs who include Godfrey Okello (Nwoya East) and Margaret Ayabare (Mbarara DWR) raised concerns about the practicality and enforcement of this rule.
Ocaya also recommended extending the ban on alcohol sales in public transport to include water vessels. This suggestion faced opposition from MPs who argued that it would unfairly impact leisure activities on boats and ferries. They suggested restricting the ban to captains and crew members instead.
Additionally, Ocaya called for a ban on firearms and dangerous weapons in bars and for bar operators to have the authority to expel violent customers. This proposal sparked debate about the feasibility of such measures in various types of bars across Uganda.
The Police Force also proposed harmonizing the bill with the Traffic and Road Safety Act, calling for severe penalties for drunk driving, including license cancellation and compensation for crash victims.
Lastly, the force suggested holding parents and guardians accountable for minors using their National Identification Numbers (NINs) to buy alcohol online aiming to curb underage drinking.
