It is a public secret Ugandans’ love affair for the bottle prevails in every corner of the country.
The Global status report on alcohol and health of 2014 ranked Uganda among the top alcohol per capita consuming countries in Africa. This may even be the reason why singers have composed various songs like “Bakuuwe kyonywa”, “Baala”, praising and encouraging drinking.
Yesterday during the National Labour Day Celebration in Pallisa President Yoweri Museveni expressed concern about the excessive consumption of alcoholism and gambling practices saying they have greatly affected the working culture of Ugandans and promised that government is going to make laws to regulate the practices.
Museveni linked the practices to decline in the working cultures amongst the population.
“Working culture is still a problem in rural areas. Many people don’t work; they spend time in alcohol and gambling. We are going to make laws to regulate drinking and gambling hours”, he said
Various legislators have come up to with bills to help in the regulations of the drinking. Latest was last year September when Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze initiated a private member’s bill, “The Alcohol Drinks Control Bill, 2016″ to help check misuse and abuse of alcohol. However, since then it has never been passed.