Pushing the Bill: Sarah Opendi
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has thrown its weight behind the enactment of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, after it issued a certificate of financial implication indicating the the provisions being proposed in the bill will not have any impact on the consolidated fund.
The revelation was made by Sarah Opendi Tororo DWR), while appearing before Parliament’s Health Committee to defend the proposals she made in the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, where she castigated the Ministry for failing to issue the certificate of financial implication within the 60days as stipulated in the Rules, Privileges and Discipline where Government is required to issue this certificate within 60 days to any MP seeking to move a private member’s bill.
“Just yesterday, I saw the letter from the Secretary to Treasury, in response to our request for the certificate for financial implication and he did respond, but this has been overtaken by events, because we had to rely on our Rules that give the MP 60days. And so, when he responds now to give me a certificate, with comments, it is beyond the 60 days rule. But the certificate was issued and it clearly shows that that there is no charge on the consolidated fund,” said Opendi.
Irene Muloni (DWR Bulambuli) tasked Opendi to explain the motive behind a proposal in clause 26 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, where she is seeking to ban the packing, importing or selling of an alcoholic drink in a sachet, plastic bottle and have a fine of Shs20 Million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, imposed on anyone found acting in violation of this provision.
Muloni remarked, “When you focus on the packaging in the plastic bottles, or those sachets, is there any scientific problem with the kind of material which constitutes plastics or sachets or there are other reasons why you wouldn’t like alcohol to be packed in those kind of packages?”
Opendi also defended the proposal to impose a time limit of 5Pm to 10Pm on working days within which one can buy and sell alcoholic drinks, and have a penalty of 10years or fine of Shs20Million imposed on anyone found contravention this provision, saying the move is intended to promote peace and prosperity in Uganda.
“If somebody buys and goes to drink from home, we have no problem with that, for us we shall not control people’s homes, you are actually free. That is why we said super markets can sell alcohol from 10am to 10Pm, so if one wants to drink, you can go and buy from the supermarket, go and drink from home. Why do people fear drinking from home?” she remarked.
In clause 14 of the Alcoholics Drinks Control Bill 2023, Opendi is proposing to regulate time within which alcoholic drinks are sold in Uganda by limiting sale of alcohol to only 5hours between l7:00 hours to 22:00 hours on working days, and 12 hours on weekends between 12:00 hours and after 00:00 hours on public holidays and weekends.
