BY JOACKIM KULE
The new orders on alcohol consumption in Uganda have been received with mixed reactions by residents and political leaders in Kasese District with majority of them appreciating the initiative and others becoming hesitant about its planned enforcement.
The Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, in his letter dated August 10 and issued to the District Chairpersons, Municipal and City Mayors, Division Mayors and Council Speakers, ordered that no alcohol should be served to children under 18 years, and that no bar should open before 3pm during working days.
The Minister also imposed a ban on early morning alcohol consumption, which he said must be enforced by all the Local Governments.
Wilson Kiiza, the L.C I Chairperson-elect for Katadoba Cell in the Central Division of Kasese Municipality, welcomes the orders with excitement, noting that they would enable the people to work hard and realize improved livelihoods.
Mr. Kiiza says he had started implementing a related by-law in his area of jurisdiction after observing that most youth had opted taking much of their time loitering at the trading centers and leaving their wives with the responsibility of caring for all the people in their homes.
He lauds the Minister’s orders, saying they need to be adhered to in order for all the people to engage in real work for socio-economic empowerment.
Hon. Glyed Baluku, the District Councilor representing Maliba Sub-County says that alcoholism among the people who do not work has turned into thieves that terrorize their communities at night while looking for money to drink in the morning hours.
However, Mr. Ronald Bwambale Kabuku, the Kasese District FDC Chairperson, says he does not agree with the government, arguing that it should have first investigated the cause of alcohol consumption by the people especially the youth and subsequently work on their challenges.
According to him, most youth go to some trading centers in the morning hours because they are allegedly unemployed, something that traumatizes and keeps them redundant.
Mr. Saulo Maate, the Kasese District Chairperson for the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) says the government should have first consulted the bar owners because they pay license, rent and other fees to the government.
Maate suggests that the government needs to maintain the opening hours at least from midday up to the morning of the following day because the people will have completed their domestic activities.
Mr. Clovis Kayiri, a resident of Bugoye Sub-county, who claims to be among the youth investing in the alcohol business, suggests that there should be a review of the opening time because the business operators earn a living from such undertakings.
ENDS