Experts tell Parliament to pass the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill into Law

Experts have urged Parliament to stop dragging its feet and pass into law the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill.

The experts reason that the high cost of treating people battling alcohol dependence and abuse is getting higher every year, with each patient requiring Sh2m per month or monthly, and Sh24m every year for treatment in a rehabilitation facility.

“About 20 Alcohol rehabilitation centres in Kampala, Wakiso and Mpigi are all full and most victims are children from well off families. Our estimate is that it costs about Sh2m per month in a rehabilitation centre how many people have Sh24m per year because it takes between 8-12 months to treat a patient. This is what we see on a daily basis,” said Richard Baguma, a Consultant with Uganda Alcoholic Policy Alliance.

Currently there’s no law that control the sale and consumption of alcohol with many bars open 24/7.

“When you are addressing a matter of concern like this, we can’t say that we won’t meet resistance we won’t say that we won’t be challenged, but for us, we are at the end. You come to our rehab, you will shed tears they are full to capacity with young people, go to Butabika, there is no more admission in Butabika. You can’t get direct admission there and the leading cause is this (alcohol), said David Kalema, Executive Director, Hope and Beyond Alcohol and Drugs Treatment Centre.

Albert Elwa, former alcohol abuser called for establishment of more rehabilitation centres to save lives, saying he received rehabilitation for alcohol abuse for 15years and ended up losing his oesophagus after acquiring esophageal (cancer of oesophagus).

“When you look at the ratio of dependence to treatment, in a country of 45million people, we have about 4-5million people dependent on alcohol, this calls for the area of us setting up rehabilitation centres. If there is a way, we strongly appeal of going back to the drawing board and see ways of coming up with the Alcohol Fund. It will support enforcement and also support initiatives towards treatment,” said Elwa.

Uganda has consistently ranked as one of the most drinking country in the world and alcohol is the top leading cause of gender based violence and marriage breakups in the country.