The LC5 Vice Chairman of Gulu Mr Isaac Newton Ojok has ordered traders selling alcohol in Opit trading center in Lakwana Sub County to leave their bars close until 12:00pm or else face serious consequences.

Ojok expressed disappointment with the youth who only engage in the consumption of alcohol and that it has come to his notice that Arwot Omiya Village in Te got parish Lakwana Sub County leads in petty theft out of the 294 villages in Gulu district. He attributes this to idleness and disorders coupled with irresponsible alcoholism.

He instructed the LC3 Chairman of Lakwana to take the lead in the matter of ensuring security in order to reduce the crime rate in the sub county.

In his response Otika Walter who is the Chairman LC3 Lakwana Sub County said that the biggest setback is the regulating of the sales of alcohol which is completely not there, because every shop has become a bar at the same time.

In all the districts in Acholi sub region alcohol is sold everywhere from sitting rooms, shops bars and even small hotel. Last year when the RDC Lt Santos Okot Lapolo stopped the sell of locally brewed alcohol in Kitgum, people resorted to selling it behind closed doors. 

Then in 2010 the former RDC of Gulu the late Rtd Col Walter Ochora Odoch destroyed more than 100,000 litres of local brew in order to stop its consumption after 27 people died after drinking poisonous alcohol in Gulu district in only two months, the business was driven underground.

Above all, alcohol sold in scachets and can be carried in pockets, continues to contribute to the death of people consuming the liquor, which calls for drastic measures.

Parliament is contemplating bringing new laws against alcohol abuse, while similar by-laws have been passed by some districts.

The former Gulu district chairman and President general of DP Norbert Mao once said that the fight against alcohol abuse should not only be left to Parliament, but the duty of every citizen.

“We at the local government level have a bigger role to play by setting up stringent by-laws to stop the sale of deadly liquors,” Mao says.

Indeed, by-laws have been passed in many parts of the country, including Teso, Acholi and West Nile, without any meaningful effect.