Gulu district on Tuesday launched the alcohol ordinance which seeks to regulate the consumption and sale of what is commonly known as satchel waragi.
The coming into force of the ordinance follows the approval nearly two months ago of the text of the ordinance by the Attorney General who is also the government’s chief legal adviser.
Satchel waragi has been a constant in Gulu since 2006 when they started flooding local drinking joints in Gulu and other districts in the Acholi region,
Those with stocks of sachet waragi have only two weeks to dispose them off to the consumers, according to Capt Santos Okot Lapolo, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner (RDC). During the launch of the ordinance at Gulu Main Market, RDC Lapolo warned that anyone who is found consuming, selling or in possession of crude drinks after the two weeks period will be prosecuted in the courts of law.
By December 6, 2016 as per the new regulation, no waragi packed in sachet will be sold to consumers in Gulu.
The new ordinance on sale, and consumption of sachet waragi also restricts the opening of bars and drinking joints.
The regulation will also restrict words used by alcohol manufacturers in advertising their products, sale of alcoholic drinks to underage children and quantity of the packed drinks.
RDC Lapolo observed that the problem of sachet waragi has led to men abandoning their responsibility of providing for their families since they spend most of their time at the drinking joint.
Lapolo claimed that women are complaining of men neglecting their conjugal rights as they usually comes home drunk and in turn fail to perform in bed.
The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, His Grace John Baptist Odama who was present during the launch described the new ordinance on waragi as a relief.
Archbishop Odama explained that the waragi is not only destroying future generation but families as well.
Archbishop Odama noted that some men move with satched waragi in their pocket, something he says affects productivity.
The Archbishop also noted that alcohol has become like a dry ration to some school going children and some men as well, something he says is giving him sleepless nights.
He urged community to desist from the temptation of taking the waragi during this festive season.
Odama also criticized business operators who are against the ban simply because they see the waragi as a source of revenue.
The Gulu Mayor, George Labeja said alcohol has turned mature men into beggars.
Labeja added that he is tired of hearing abled bodied men begging him for money buy waragi.
In June this year, Eng Hillary Onek, the Minister in- Charge of Disaster Preparedness and Relief 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.
The minister 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.
Religious and cultural leaders in the region have over the years been crying out to local governments to have a by-law in place that limits the sale and consumption of waragi among the locals.
