KAMPALA- Uganda Police Force has backed the proposal to impose time limit within which alcohol is sold in Uganda, but went further to ask Parliament to impose higher taxes on bars, so as to control the mushrooming bars establishment of bars everywhere in order to encourage consumption of alcohol at home.
The proposal was made by James Ocaya, Deputy Inspector General of Police, while appearing before Parliament’s Trade Committee to submit the Force’s views on the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023 that was tabled last year by Sarah Opendi (Tororo DWR).
In clause 14 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, Opendi proposed to have alcohol sold in Uganda between 5:00Pm to 10Pm on working days and between 12:00 Noon to 12:00am Midnight on public holidays and weekends, although this shall not apply to a person who sells an alcoholic drink in a licensed tourist camp, nightclub, theater, fetes, bezaar or a trade show.
Opendi further proposed a penalty of 10years imprisonment or fine of Shs20M or both to be imposed on a person who contravenes the provisions.
Deputy IGP Ochaya didn’t oppose the provision but asked for further strengthening of the provision, saying that Liquor shops should be preferred over bars by imposing fewer taxes on the latter and higher taxes on the former.
Uganda Police Force welcomed the enactment of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, arguing that the legislation will be critical at reducing crimes that are perpetrated by alcoholism.
The Force made eight proposals to the Bill, including backing the proposal to prohibit the sale of alcohol to law enforcement officers in uniform, but the Deputy Inspector of Police asked Parliament to strengthen the provision by extending the ban to the officers on duty, in order to enforce discipline within security forces.
Police also asked Parliament to extend the ban of the sale of alcohol in public service vehicles to also include water transport, which means of transportation they argue is prune to accidents as a result of abuse of alcohol.
However, Ntungamo district woman mp Joselyn Kamateneti rejected the provision saying imposing a ban on the consumption of alcohol on water bodies would infringe on the rights of party goers who usually use ferries to have a good time, but instead, the ban should be imposed on the captains steering the water vessels.
Police has also asked Parliament to include a provision in the Bill to ban entry of persons with fire arms and dangerous weapons in bars, as well as give bar operators powers to expel violent customers that may harm other people.
The Force has also proposed to Parliament to ensure the provisions in the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill are harmonized with certain section in the Traffic and Road Safety Act on alcohol and the regulations with this bill, which provisions call for imprisonment of 3years for driving while under influence of alcohol, and requirement to compensate crash victims, knocked by motorists who drive while drunk.
