Gulu district Chairman Ojara Martin Mapenduzi yesterday signed an ordinance—the Gulu District Alcoholic Ordinance 2016 which will regulate the sell, consumption and production of sachet Waragi.
Under the ordinance, bars in Gulu will open at 5pm.
In a letter dated September 23, 2016, by the Attorney General and addressed to the Gulu Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and copied to the Gulu LCV, the Attorney General gave Gulu a go- ahead for Gulu to sign the ordinance saying it did not violate any law in Uganda. The Attorney General is the chief legal advisor to government.
The Gulu district council passed the ordinance early this year and sent it to the Attorney General for approval.
The Attorney General’s letter was signed by Gulu Chairman Ojara Martin Mapenduzi yesterday at during a press briefing at the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) in Gulu.
Mapenduzi estimated that 21 thousand litters of 27 brands of sachet Waragi is sent to Gulu by its producers every month.
Since 2006, religious and cultural leaders from the Acholi sub region have blamed alcoholism on the poverty in the region. The leaders called on the local government leaders in the region to put a total ban on illicit drinks arguing that it is a setback to the recovery process after years of conflict.
Mapenduzi explained that under new ordinance, social places are required to start selling alcohol drinks by 7pm and will close by 1 am, and that after that time, no bar or drinking joint will be allowed to sell alcohol.
Additionally, he said the ordinance does not allow waragi packed in quantity not less than 250 milliliters to be sold in Gulu district.
The Gulu LCV Chairman warned that anyone is found to have violated the ordinance will be fined two currency points (40,000 shillings fine), or face a six month-jail term or both.
The Gulu Chairman said the ordinance is meant to address the current high rate of alcohol abuse that has led to low productivity especially among the youth.
He explained majority of able bodied men mostly at their productive age are spending a lot of valuable time drinking instead of engaging in productive work which can enable them provide for their respective families.
The regulation will also restrict manipulative advertising targeting exaggerating the ‘’benefits’’ of drinking sachet Waragi.
‘‘There are some misleading adverts like “this product will help you to have very good sex’’ or that it will make you ‘‘brighter or quick at making decisions. These messages forces people to consume alcohol without knowing the dangers and this law will not accept such adverts to be circulated,” Mapenduzi said.
In Junes this year, Eng Hillary Onek, the Minister in- Charge of Disaster Preparedness and Reliefs called on local governments in Acholi sub region to enact an ordinance that will put a total ban on the consumption of waragi packed in sachet.
Addressing leaders from Acholi sub region in Gulu town, Minister Onek warned that consuming large quantity of such waragi could cause infertility in men questioning how the drinks are made before it is supplied to the market.
Minister Onek said he suspects that some of the ingredients used for making such alcoholic drinks are chemicals used for making laundry soap.
Additional reporting by David Okema
1 Comment
Thankyou Hon .Martin Mapenduzi Ojara.Thus,where appropriate,Waragi (Alcohol) consumers are encouraged to share the experiences of their long term effects and exchange views so that the Youth can learn how destructive effects the Alcohol( Waragi) can cause to our Families,Education benefits and to the man Power needs.
Acholi Elders should pass the message to Every WANG OO. with an informal approachable Culture that encourages innovative thinking through debate and the expression of a new ideas and concept.Please work with your District Teams and Supporters to design a beneficial subject matter for the Groups we shall target them to Learn and change their behaviors.