Activists Call For Stronger Enforcement Against Illicit Tobacco Products Flooding Uganda

By Julius Muhumuza

Civil society organizations advocating for public health are calling on the government to protect Uganda’s tax and budget processes from interference by the tobacco industry.

Health activists argue that the tobacco industry is attempting to influence national budget discussions while failing to comply with transparency requirements under the Tobacco Control Act.

They are urging government to increase taxes on tobacco products and strengthen enforcement measures to protect Ugandans from the harmful effects of tobacco use.

According to health advocates, tobacco consumption continues to pose a major public health and economic burden both globally and in Uganda.

The Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS Uganda) says governments worldwide lose billions of dollars every year due to tobacco-related illnesses and deaths.

Speaking to the media at the HEPS Uganda offices in Mengo, Kampala, the organization’s Executive Director, Kenneth Mwehonge, said Uganda alone loses about 120 million US dollars annually due to tobacco-related health effects.

“Globally, about one trillion dollars are lost due to tobacco use. For Uganda, approximately 120 million US dollars are lost every year due to tobacco-related illnesses and deaths. This is why we are pushing to expose tobacco industry interference in public policy processes,” Mwehonge said.

Civil society organizations accuse the tobacco industry of attempting to influence national budget processes through the media and other lobbying strategies, sometimes bypassing transparency laws provided for under the Sixth Schedule of the Tobacco Control Act.

They argue that the industry has failed to disclose its interactions with public officials during the budget cycle, raising concerns about accountability.

Moses Talibita, a representative of civil society organizations on the Tobacco Control Committee, said the tax cycle is one of the areas where the industry allegedly tries to manipulate policy processes.

“The tax cycle is one of the areas where the tobacco industry tries to manipulate processes even though they know the products they sell are dangerous. Government must protect the public, especially young people, from exposure to tobacco,” Talibita said.

Advocates are now demanding that government increase excise duty on tobacco products to more than 70 percent, arguing that higher taxes are one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco consumption.

They also want stronger protection for public spaces such as schools, hospitals, and churches from tobacco exposure.

Moses Kiligwajjo, a member of the Uganda Tax Coalition, says tobacco use is a major contributor to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.

“With the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, a significant proportion is linked to tobacco use. The Ministry of Finance and the Budget Committee should ensure that higher taxes are imposed on tobacco products,” Kiligwajjo said.

Health experts warn that tobacco use continues to contribute to increasing cases of non-communicable diseases in the country.

Media practitioner Dr. Malinga Paddy says thousands of tobacco-related cases are recorded every year.

“In Uganda, about 5,200 tobacco-related cases are registered every year. The chemicals in tobacco products cause severe illness and death. Yet the industry continues to flood areas like Arua Park and Johnson Street with these products,” he said.

Members of the Tobacco Industry Monitoring Team are also calling for a transparent and accountable budget process, urging the Ministry of Finance to reject undisclosed lobbying from tobacco companies.

“We want the Ministry of Finance to reject any lobbying from the tobacco industry that is not backed by transparency and publicly disclosed information,” said Kisakye Enock of the Tobacco Industry Monitoring Team.

Civil society groups are also urging the government to strengthen border controls to curb illicit trade in tobacco products, including banned items such as shisha and electronic cigarettes.

They say stronger enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act will help protect the public from tobacco-related diseases and reduce the long-term burden on Uganda’s health system.

Civil society organizations emphasize that protecting Uganda’s tax cycle and public health policies from tobacco industry interference will be critical in reducing tobacco consumption and safeguarding the health of future generations.

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