By Agencies
Uganda has directed bars, Malwa joints and other alcohol-selling establishments not to open before 3 p.m. on working days, stepping up efforts to curb daytime drinking in a country where harmful alcohol use has long been flagged as a major public health and productivity concern.
Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi issued the directive on Tuesday, instructing LC5 chairpersons, city and division mayors and council speakers to work with security agencies and enforcement teams to implement the restrictions.
“Bars, Malwa joints and other alcohol-selling establishments should not open before 3:00 p.m. on working days, subject to applicable national laws, licensing requirements and lawful local government regulations,” Barugahara said.
The minister said local leaders should particularly discourage early-morning drinking, arguing that people spending working hours consuming alcohol contributed to idleness, family problems and crime.
Bars and alcohol outlets that repeatedly defy lawful operating-hour directives should be closed, while persistent offenders should face enforcement action in accordance with the law, according to the circular.
Alcohol Problem
The directive comes against a backdrop of longstanding concern over alcohol consumption in Uganda.
The World Health Organisation’s Africa office said in 2023, citing the World Health Statistics 2023 report, that Uganda’s estimated alcohol consumption stood at 12.2 litres of pure alcohol per person annually, compared with an African regional average of 6.3 litres and a global average of 6.18 litres cited at the time.
Uganda’s total alcohol consumption among people aged 15 and above at an estimated 6.41 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2020, with a confidence range of 4.78 to 8.01 litres.
WHO says harmful alcohol consumption has consequences extending beyond intoxication, including liver and cardiovascular diseases, several cancers, injuries, mental and behavioural disorders, family difficulties, financial problems and unemployment. Alcohol has a causal role in more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions.
Young adults are particularly affected. WHO estimates that 13% of alcohol-attributable deaths occurred among people aged 20 to 39, an age group that forms a significant part of the working population.
The organisation also links harmful and hazardous drinking over the long term to problems at work, unemployment and financial difficulties, giving a public-health dimension to Barugahara’s argument that restricting drinking during working hours could promote productivity.
Alcohol Sales to Children
Barugahara also ordered tougher action against businesses supplying alcohol to people below 18.
“Bar owners, shop owners and operators of Malwa joints or other alcohol-selling establishments who sell or supply alcohol to persons under 18 years of age should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.
Local authorities and security agencies were instructed to strictly enforce the requirement, while establishments repeatedly found violating the rules should face sanctions.
Betting Hours
The minister also directed local governments to regulate the operating hours of betting companies, although he did not prescribe uniform opening or closing times.
He said the restrictions should be implemented under applicable laws and regulations and should particularly seek to protect young people from harmful practices associated with excessive betting.
Joint security teams, council enforcement officers and other relevant authorities have been directed to support local governments in enforcing the measures.
Councils Meetings to Media
Barugahara’s circular goes beyond alcohol and betting, introducing measures intended to increase public scrutiny of local government decisions and expenditure.
“All councils should allow members of the press access to council sittings, just as Parliament allows media access to its proceedings,” he said.
The minister said opening council proceedings to journalists would allow residents to follow debates, decisions and the conduct of public business by their elected representatives.
Local governments were also directed to display their approved budgets on their main council notice boards and other publicly accessible boards.
“This will enable members of the public to know what has been budgeted for their respective areas and follow up on the implementation of projects and services, thereby promoting people-led audits, transparency and accountability,” the circular said.
Barugahara ordered local government leaders to take personal responsibility for implementing the directives and report challenges through the appropriate government channels.
The 3 p.m. restriction could, however, face questions over how it will be implemented across different local governments and licensing regimes.
The minister’s circular itself states that the proposed opening time is subject to applicable national laws, licensing requirements and lawful local government regulations, effectively requiring enforcement measures to remain within existing legal powers.
