Government, civil society unite for enactment of a tobacco law

The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Non Communicable Diseases (PFNCD) together with ministry of Health is in the process of securing a certificate of financial implications from Ministry of Finance in a bid to have the Anti-Tobacco bill passed into law.

This was revealed during the official launch of the Public Awareness and Advocacy Campaign against tobacco yesterday. The launch that was marked with a match from ministry of health to Chogm gardens opposite parliament was held under the theme, ‘tobacco is addictive, harms health and kills; say no to tobacco!’

“We need this certificate so that we are able to table the bill in parliament, have it debated on and consented by the president so that it becomes a comprehensive and operational law in Uganda,” Hon. Benny Namugwanya Bugembe, PFNCD’s chairperson said.

Uganda is party to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first healthy treaty which requires that countries put in place mechanisms to address the devastating health, socio economic and environmental effects of tobacco under its Article 5.3. 

The bill that was moved last year by Kinkizi East MP, Chris Baryomunsi proposes increase on the tax of tobacco products, prohibition of the sale and importation of duty free tobacco products, ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and the ban of selling tobacco products to minors among others.  

It also proposes the establishment of a tobacco control committee under the office of the Prime minister with the Ministry of Health as the Secretariat. When enacted into law, it will be called the Tobacco Control Act and shall serve as an amendment to the Tobacco Control and Marketing Act of 1967 and the National Environment (Control of smoking in public places) Regulations of 2004.

“The passing of the bill into law should have happened last December but did not because of the prioritization of the oil bill and the death of Nebanda which overshadowed it. But we are ready to have a tobacco law because it is today that we help save lives for the better future or never!”Hon. Namugwanya said.

As a means to realizing this goal, Uganda has drafted a tobacco control policy to address tobacco consumption and production.

“Government, under this policy is proposing to routinely raise taxes so that the retail price of tobacco products is high enough and unaffordable for minors and reduce on tobacco use among adults,” said Hon. Sarah Achieng Opendi, the minister of state for primary health care. 

In view of protecting people from secondhand smoke, the government is proposing to amend the existing legislation on exposure to second hand tobacco smoke in order to make to complaint to the FCTC guidelines to achieve 100% smoke free public places. Failure to abide by government laws will lead to closure of such places.

Achieng added that when the bill is passed into law, government shall undertake a comprehensive ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship including corporate social responsibility by the tobacco industry.

Major stakeholders targeted for the campaign include ministries of trade, tourism, agriculture, health and local government and civil society organizations. Ministry of agriculture will be in charge of overseeing the implementation of alternative livelihoods for tobacco growers. For example in Yumbe and Zombo districts, some farmers have destroyed their tobacco farms and replaced it with growing food crops.

Fear of arrest abets child sacrifice - report

According to a report titled, ‘Child Sacrifice and the Mutilation of Children in Uganda’ by Humane Africa, most people are reluctant to report incidents of child sacrifice to the police for fear of being arrested.

The research, conducted in 25 communities in south and south-eastern Uganda last year, indicates that most interviewees’ are afraid of violence during interrogation.  

The report cites a witness in Wakiso district, who hesitated to report a child murder to the police after discovering a headless body last year.

“I hope you won’t take me to the police but I think it is the traditional healers,” he said.  

“I will tell you but don’t take me as a suspect at the police,” said another interviewee, who had witnessed the body of a five-year-old girl without her genitalia and tongue.

According to Simon Fellows, the Director of Humane Africa, a UK-registered charity working in Africa to prevent social harms connected with witchcraft and child sacrifice, this fear of imprisonment comes at the cost of hiding the vice.

The police homicide department reported nine cases of child mutilation and four cases of adults being mutilated between January and November 2012. During the four-month period from June to September 2012, four cases were officially reported throughout Uganda.

“This figure is in stark contrast to the 20 mutilations which occurred in the same period in the 25 communities where this research was based,” Fellows said during the launch of the report in Kampala yesterday.

However, Noa Sserunjoji, the police spokesman for the southern region, dismisses the claims that people who report the cases are arrested.

Instead, he says, people don’t report these cases for fear of tarnishing of the names of the perpetrators who are ‘rich people’. Sserunjoji adds that others are also afraid that the witchcraft will turn against them if they report the case.

The researchers looked at Kiryandongo, Masindi, Wakiso, Mayuge, Jinja, Mukono, Kalungu, Buikwe and Masaka districts. The research shows that people mutilate children to evade poverty and frustration due to a strong belief in the effectiveness of the use of body parts such as blood and tissue in traditional medicine.

In one of the interviews recorded with a believer in child mutilation, the interviewee said, “When I wanted to get rid of bed wetting, I was given the genitalia of a young boy which I tied around my knickers for two days and it worked for me,” the interviewee said. This interviewee added that although she felt guilty that a child was mutilated to help her resolve her problem, she would support the vice if the need arose again, as body parts are stronger than herbs.

The research indicates that the tongue and genitalia are the commonly mutilated parts. Also females between the age of three and 18 are most at risk of mutilation.

The research was conducted in partnership with the British High Commission, Makerere University, The Norwegian Embassy in Uganda, Save the Children, Empower and Care Organization and Kyampisi Child Care.

Stop torture of children-Kadaga urges

RACHEAL NINSIIMA

Hon Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda’s speaker of parliament has advised headteachers and parents to stop the torture of children if they are to succeed. Her advice was based on the premise that there is a growing trend of school children waking up early in order to beat the 7:00AM deadline of arrival time at school, studying long hours and being made to carry heavy books to school. 

In fact, a study conducted by researchers in the Department of Anatomy at Makerere University’s College of Health Sciences on the effect of heavy school bags among 532 school pupils indicated that 88.2% of them reported having body pain especially in the neck shoulders and upper back, with lower back pain affecting close to 39% of them.

This research also established that 30.8% of the pupils who were included in the study carried school bags which were way too heavy for their weight; more than the recommended limit of 10% of their body weights.

“During our days, things like waking up at 5AM to go to school were never there. However, these days, on top of waking up early, children, even those in nursery are loaded with homework yet they return from school late,” Kadaga said while officiating at the opening of St. Catherine Junior School in Namugongo last week.

She added that parents and headteachers remain the best advocates for safety promotion of the health of children. Kadaga also urged headteachers to include vocational lessons on the school’s curriculum in order to make a child’s education holistic and for parents to embrace Universal Primary Education (UPE).

“There was a lot of human resource wastage in the past when women were made to stay at home but UPE has made it simpler for all people to access free education and parents need to recognize its value and embrace it,” she said.

The newly opened school consists of a nursery and day care section and parents will part with shs 500,000 for their children to access education in the school.

ninsiima@observer.ug

Beware of drugs; they can ruin your life

RACHEAL NINSIIMA

Ali Warsame, a resident of Mengo-Kisenyi spends the better part of his day chewing mairungi- a common narcotic leaf drug. For the last five years, mairungi, internationally known as Khat has been his bread and butter because it helps him beat hunger and stay awake.

Indeed, looking beneath his ripped, pale blue jeans, I see a bunch of the leaves ready for chewing. Warsame migrated to Uganda in 2007 after the Somalia civil war robbed him of his parents and siblings. He has since lived a destitute life, doing drugs and spending his nights and days in open shelters.

Although mairungi trade and consumption is considered illegal in Uganda, he takes it publically and so do his Somali colleagues.

Previously drug use was associated with casual labourers but lately there has been gradual growth with even the high-end consumers the latest case being the demised Butaleja Woman MP, Cerinah Nebanda whose death has been linked to drug abuse.

Drug users display signs of increased alertness, excitement, energy, talkativeness, decreased appetite and difficulty in sleeping. Health experts believe drug use in Uganda is on the increase and is being propagated as 'trendy' amongst the youth and corporates. However, these drugs bear negative health effects which most users are ignorant of.

Below, we explore some of these ‘trendy’ drugs, their usage, signs and symptoms of the user and their effects.

Cocaine: 

Cocaine in its purest form is white however that sold in Uganda is usually mixed with other substances like baking soda, sugar and other drugs like CPZ Lime giving it a pinkish or off-white colour. It is mainly sited in Arua park.

Chris Mugarura, a peer mentor with the Anti Drug and Alcohol Abuse Movement (A.D.D.A.M) says Cocaine may be eaten, smoked, snorted or injected into one’s body.  

He adds that a user may be jittery and paranoid after consumption and with an overdose, a person may hallucinate, become delusional or even unconscious.

For example in February last year, Jeffery Rice, a freelance producer of the, ‘The Amazing Race’ reality show died of an overdose of cocaine. Rice and his assistant, Katheryne Fuller were found unconscious at the Serena Hotel balcony. 

According to an article on drug abuse on www.doctorrennie.wordpress.com patients, who use cocaine are often high, have red spots on their nose or ears and blisters on the thumb and index finger of their dominant hand and scabs or burns around the lips.

It also increases the stickiness of platelets and therefore increases risk of heart attack or stroke.

“Due to its euphoria inducing effects as well as its ability to increase sex drive it usually makes people engage in more sex than they normally would which may spread disease, especially HIV,” Andrew Sempebwa a counsellor says.

The highest use of this drug in Uganda is among cooperates.  

Heroin:

In its purest form, heroin, locally called ‘embawo’ is a white powder but is mostly brown in colour because of the presence of impurities. Heroin is usually measured with an overgrown nail on the little finger and each scoop costs about Shs 20,000 whereas a gram costs Shs 60,000.

“A tin foil containing heroin powder is heated underneath and this turns it into liquid. Users therefore either inhale the fumes or inject the liquid,” Mugarura explains.

Heroin can also be smoked. Among the signs an addict may show include: calmness when high, mental confusion, lack of hygiene, poor appetite and bright eyes. According to an article titled ‘heroin abuse and use’ on www.indiaparenting.com, over consumption of heroin may lead to weak veins, infections like HIV from infected needles and death.

Heroin is mainly produced in South Eastern countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that 30-35 tons of Afghan heroin is trafficked into East Africa annually, most of it destined for Europe. It is traded in the appearance of soap or cake and later broken down into powder.

Marijuana/Cannabis:

Marijuana commonly called weed, ‘enjagga,’ ‘ganja’ or ‘dude’ is smoked and dissolved in water for consumption. It is a green or brown mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the Cannabis Sativa plant. According to the police narcotic section, marijuana is mainly grown in Wakiso, Mukono, Luweero, Kalangala, Masaka, Bushenyi, Kyenjojo, Iganga Busia and Bugiri distrcits.

“At a cost of only Shs 300 a stick, marijuana is easily available making it the commonest drug in Uganda; even cops use it,” Mugarura says.

In Kampala, 30 hand-rolled marijuana cigarettes cost about Shs 10,000 it is less in rural areas.

 “Signs and symptoms may include restlessness, inability to experience pleasure, fatigue, increased sleep, vivid dreams, insomnia, agitation, anxiety, drug craving and increased appetite,” Sempebwa says.

He adds that over consumption can lead to insomnia or increased sleep, depression and possible suicidal thoughts.

Kuber:

It is a highly addictive tobacco product packed in sachets similar to tea leaves. This may be added to tea or just licked on its own. According to Dr Sheila Ndyanabangi, the tobacco focal point person in the health ministry, kuber is rich in nicotine which increases incidences of heart attacks and stroke, thin hair and sudden mood alterations among others.

It is being widely consumed by secondary school students and taxi drivers. Results of a research conducted by Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL) in 2011 reveal that kuber, apart from tobacco, also contains cocaine, marijuana, cannabis or combinations of these which may lead to hormonal change, impaired brain development, mental health disorders and heart problems among other effects. Kuber is often chewed with mairungi leaves, sucked or taken with hot water as a beverage resulting in feeling drunk. It is sold in shops and supermarkets.

Alcohol:

Roderick Ssali (not real name) first tasted beer during his S.6 vacation under the influence of his friends. Being the only one working hence the richest in the group, his friends often lured him with ‘plot’ of clubs every night.

“I made friends with cooperate guys I found in club and they introduced me to ‘hard stuff’ and those days, it was hard to find me without a hangover,” Ssali narrates adding that these cooperates encouraged him to kill the hangover with a colder beer.

Soon, he was caught up in the vicious cycle of boozing so much so that he was known by the counter-sellers who would sometimes give him booze on credit. Ssali lost his job with Eagle Air because of work backlog. Nevertheless, he never gave up on booze and went in for local brew fondly called, ‘Kasese.’

However with the constant counselling of his mother, Ssali overcame the vice.

This is a common addictive drug especially among the youth. In Uganda, youth prefer strong local spirits like Royal Gin, Signature Vodka, Beckham Gin and Tyson waragi which are easily accessible in miniature sachets at very low prices. According to the Uganda Youth Development Link Report on the state of alcohol abuse in Uganda, poisoning due to alcohol is causing death of about 100 people annually.

Other drugs include petrol and tobacco. Petrol is sniffed either from small bottles or from soaked cloth and is mostly used by urban youth and street children.  Dr Possy Mugyenyi, the manager of Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA) says that apart from cigarettes, tobacco can be consumed by eating dark chocolates, mouth fresheners and chewing tobacco leaves.

“Excessive exposure of one’s body to tobacco increases the risk of oral and lung cancers and aneurysm (abnormal widening of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel),” he explains.

High end places for drugs:

Mugarura says most of the drug dealers are found in areas of Kabalagala and Kasanga because of the proliferation of foreigners and in slums across the country.

Target places where these drugs are sold include house parties, university students’ hostels, private hotel parties, bars, bashes locally known as ‘ebigundda’, schools and clubs among others.

Causes of drug use and abuse:

Sempebwa says that the availability of the drugs on market and glorification of drugs on internet, TV and bashes makes people prone to use.

“Look at the people we that the media glorifies-I mean celebrities. These are the people who use drugs and sometimes promote the use of drugs and many youths go in for drugs because so and so, a celebrity is using them,” he says.

Also many youth experiment with substances as an acceptable part of transition into adulthood, to relieve stress, relax, to withstand cold weather and for adventures sake.

 “There is no medicine against this addiction but it is only one’s willingness to stop and those around him/her should be patient and offer the necessary support,” Sempebwa says.

However, Fredrick Ssekyana, the spokesperson of National Drug Authority says there is also a considerable abuse of over the counter and prescription medicines such as slimming tablets, pain killers (analgesics), tranquilisers and cough mixtures which needs to be checked.

ninsiima@observer.ug