The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) has rejected some of the penalties stipulated in the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, saying they are too punitive to resolve the issue of alcoholism in Uganda.
The concern was raised by Joseph Serwadda, Co-Chair Inter Religious Council of Uganda while interfacing with MPs on the Joint Committee of Health and Trade that is scrutunising the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023, where the group called for mandatory rehabilitation of people suffering from alcoholism instead of resorting to imprisonment.
“The penalties seem to be more punitive than corrective in nature especially in respect to time of imprisonment and fines proposed. The IRCU recommends the introduction of corrective and reformatory measures to allow for reformation, rehabilitation, retribution, deterrence and restitution. Therefore, Parliament should provide for mandatory awareness, rehabilitation and socio-economic empowerment programmes to reduce alcoholic consumption and abuse,” Serwadda, who represents the Born-Again Faith, said.
The Council also called for the establishment of the Alcohol Rehabilitation Fund whose funds will be used for the treatment of alcoholism patients and among the groups required to contribute to the fund include; alcohol manufacturers, alcohol consumers, Government and voluntary contributors as opposed to leaving the burden of rehabilitation to the families and private sector.
He said: “All manufacturers and distributors of alcoholic drinks should monetarily contribute to this fund. The IRCU noted that the state and private entities have incurred the burden of rehabilitation of those affected with alcoholism without a direct contribution of manufacturers and distributors of alcohol. IRCU has requested for a special fund of rehabilitation where dealers in alcohol can make a contribution to the fund. The fund must be managed by the Ministry of Health for purposes of rehabilitation of persons affected by alcohol. Voluntary contribution to the fund should also be encouraged.”
IRCU also argued that as opposed to the proposal in clause 17 that restricts sell of alcohol in passenger vehicles, this should be extended to private vehicles and provide licenses for special vehicles only to sell, distribute alcohol in Uganda.
“The IRCU is of the view that alcohol sell and drinking should be restricted to both cargo and private vehicles also. There is need to license vehicles for the purpose of distributing, transporting and sale of alcohol,” Sserwada said.
Andrew Koluo (Toroma County) welcomed the proposal but wants it expanded to motor cyclists saying, “I think we should include boda bodas because of recent, many people have died and you find that the person who was riding was taking alcohol.”
The Inter-Religious Council also proposed to have the ban on the sale of alcohol not only limited to officers in security forces but have it extended to all civil servants, pregnant women and people who are already intoxicated with Serwadda noting, “IRCU noted that section 20 of the bill restricts the sell of alcohol to law enforcement officers in uniform, however the Council is of the opinion that alcohol sell should be restricted non-uniformed officers, armed personnel, pregnant women, civil servants, already intoxicated persons, and children beyond 21years. There is need to penalize the buyers too. There may be need to require any form of identification before sell of alcohol to a person.”
The Council also said it is morally correct to sell alcohol to persons at age 18 but instead, the legal age should be extended to 21 so as to align with the age in the alcohol policy, a proposal that prompted Tom Bright Amooti to task the Council to explain why an individual should be allowed to marry at 18years but not be allowed to drink alcohol.
Amooti remarked, “According to our Constitution, anybody above 18years has got capacity or legal capacity to marry and once you get married, you make your own decision. Do you think a person who is capable to marry has no capacity to drink?”
