The consumption of alcohol

The byelaw called the “Drug and Substance Control Ordinance 2021” is known as a blue law since it regulates conduct and will have sweeping implications aimed at protecting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the people in Terego district by controlling the sale, consumption, transportation and consumption of drugs and other intoxicants.

The new byelaw prohibits the operation of bars before 5 pm and bans the sale of alcohol in bars, eateries and restaurants across the district during the day. It also seeks to prohibit the sale of alcohol in kiosks, roadside grocery stores and open places.

This ordinance provides for the prohibition of public advertisement and sale of alcohol in moving or stationary vehicles and stipulates a jail term of not less than six months without a monetary option to any person or group of persons who contravene the specified time guidelines thereof.

The ordinance, which is before the Terego district council, was drafted by Augustine Vuni, the councilor representing Odupi subcounty and chairperson of the social services committee.

Vuni was granted leave of the council last year to draft the ordinance.

He says the excessive consumption of booze, especially amongst the youth, has drawn men away from production and left them in bars, whiling away their most productive hours getting drunk. Booze consumption is also responsible for the increasing rate of crime in the district, said Vuni.

The new ordinance falls under sections 38 and 40 of the Local Government Act, which empowers district councils to make laws consistent with the Uganda Constitution or any other law made by Uganda’s parliament.

Apart from Terego district, Arua and Gulu have already passed similar sumptuary laws banning the sale and consumption of sachet waragi as well as regulating the hours of consumption of alcohol.

A number of measures across the country are being put into the statute books to regulate the behaviour of Ugandans.

Recently, Kalangala Town Council (KTC) vowed to cancel licences of bars that play loud music to the extent that they disturb the peace of other town residents.

Roundly condemning such noise pollution, the authorities in Kalangala told bars responsible for the noise to dial it down or face closure.

While meeting bar owners at KTC, Barbara Nambuya, the town clerk, said ever since President Yoweri Museveni opened up bars, bars have been working round the clock in Kalangala and violating other people's rights to peace and quiet in the process.

Museveni reopened the night economy including bars, lounges and dancehalls on January 24^th, 2022.

Immediately, party timers filled bars across Kampala, dancing to live music and ordering bottle service by the caseload to their tables.

"We will cancel licences of bars reported for noise pollution, those employing young Girls and any bar started in someone's home," she added.

According to the National Environment (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations of 2003, various levels of noise are prescribed for different locations.

For residential areas, the noise level should not exceed 40 decibels, 60 decibels for commercial areas and 75 decibels for Industrial areas.