Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023: Uganda Police Force Asks Parliament to Include a Clause that Will Ban Entry into Bar with a Gun.

📍 Parliament of Uganda.

📸: James Ocaya, the Deputy Inspector General of Police appearing before a Joint Parliamentary Committee of Health and Trade.

Uganda Police Force has backed the proposal to impose a time limit within which alcohol is sold in Uganda but asked Parliament to impose strengthen the provision by imposing higher taxes on bars, so as to control the mushrooming bars being established everywhere in the country, in order to encourage consumption of alcohol at home.

The proposal was made by James Ocaya, Deputy Inspector General of Police, while appearing before Parliament’s Joint Committee of Health & Trade to submit the Force’s views on the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, that was tabled in August 2023 by Sarah Opendi (Tororo DWR).

In clause 14 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, Opendi proposed to have alcohol sold in Uganda between 5:00Pm to 10Pm on working days and between 12:00 Noon to 12:00am Midnight on public holidays and weekends, although this shall not apply to a person who sells an alcoholic drink in a licensed tourist camp, nightclub, theater, fetes, bezaar or a trade show.

Opendi further proposed a penalty of 10years imprisonment or fine of Shs20M or both to be imposed on a person who contravenes the provisions.

Police didn’t oppose the provision but asked for further strengthening of the provision with Ocaya saying, “Liquor shops should be preferred over bars by imposing less taxes on the latter and higher taxes on the former. This is to discourage opening of bars anywhere and encourage consumption of alcoholic drinks from home settings.”

Uganda Police Force welcomed the enactment of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, arguing that the legislation will be critical at reducing crimes that are perpetrated by alcoholism.

Uganda Police has asked Parliament to extend the ban of the sale of alcohol in public service vehicles to also include water transport, saying that these means of transportation are also prone to accidents as a result of abuse of alcohol.

“Prohibition of sale of alcohol in public service vehicles should include water vessels for example boats, ferries, ships used as public transport. Water transport is a recognized means of transport and is as well prone to alcohol abuse,” added Ocaya.

📸: Ntungamo District Woman MP Hon Joselyn Kamateneti. Courtesy Photo.

However, Joselyn Kamateneti (Ntungamo DWR) rejected the provision saying banning the sell of alcohol on boat cruises would infringe on rights of Ugandans for entertainment, but instead, the ban should be imposed on the captains steering the water vessels.

“I think this will be unfair to our economy. I suggest that you restrict this to the captains of the ferries. People go on these boat cruises to enjoy life for entertainment or leisure, not prayers by the way, there are very few people who go on these boat cruise to go and pray so if you are saying they aren’t supposed to drink and enjoy, I am very sure you are suffocating the business. You can restrict the captain, but not the people who are using the ferry,” said Kamateneti.

The Uganda Police Force has also asked Parliament to include a provision in the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill to ban entry of persons with fire arms and dangerous weapons in bars, and give bar operators powers to expel violent customers that may harm other customers in bars.

“Create a clause to provide for prohibition of violence in drinking joints at the same time prohibiting violent conduct by customers and admission of fire arms and other dangerous weapons in public drinking places. Clause to impose mandate and or duty on the operator of the bar or their authorized agents to expel, discontinue or exclude violent customers from the rest,” explained James Ocaya, Deputy Inspector of Police.

Source: Parliamentary Watch. 

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