Uganda: Tobacco Farmers Worry of Looming Bill

Source from:  The Independent 06/13/2014

Ugandan tobacco farmers under their umbrella organization, Uganda Tobacco Growers Association (UTGA) have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga to consider their views on the looming Tobacco Control Bill, yet to be tabled in Parliament.

The Bill takes into consideration the national public health interests. The World Health Organisation says 6 million people die from tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke (one death every six seconds) every year, 22% of the world's population aged 15+ are smokers, 78% do not smoke and that non-smoking is becoming the norm world over. The organization says 10% of the world's population live in countries that completely ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Some of the sections the farmers are opposed to are: Section 15 which bans the sale and display of tobacco products in specified places or within 500 meters from public places, section 15 (3) that prohibits the display of tobacco products at points of sale. Section 15 (5) where a person shall not import, manufacture, distribute, sell or offer for sale a unit packet of tobacco or tobacco product unless the packet is intact and contains 20 sticks.

Morris Candia from West Nile and spokesman of the 60, 000 members association, who has been growing tobacco to earn a living for the last 15 years, said if the bill is passed into law as it is, poverty levels will spike among households that depend on the crop to meet their daily expenses.

Parliament is yet to respond to the farmers' petition handed to the Speaker's office on Jnue 10 in Kampala.

British American Tobacco Uganda Limited [listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange] among other companies and traders dealing with the crop and its products are opposed to the same clauses among others, which they say should be deleted before it is passed into law. Enditem