MPs want ban on sachet waragi

Members of Parliament have called for the immediate ban on the production and sale of sachet waragi.

The MPs are concerned that the Ninth Parliament’s resolution to ban sachet waragi had not been implemented. The ban was premised on scientific grounds that waragi contains high ethanol content, which is a health hazard.

Hon Paul Mwiru (Jinja East Municipality) said youths in his constituency consume a lot of sachet waragi and that it is taking a toll on their health.

Mwiru urged government to use taxation as a policy to reduce production and sale of sachet waragi if the ban has proved futile.

“If government has failed to implement the ban, they would rather introduce a 500 per cent tax on ethanol, which is used in the manufacture of waragi, such that we save our population,” Mwiru said.

Hon Okot Ogong (Dokolo South) expressed interest in moving a motion for the immediate ban on sachet waragi.

“I want to move a motion for government to ban manufacture, marketing and sale of sachet waragi with immediate effect,” he said.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, advised Okot Ogong to prepare a motion and present it to Parliament. Kadaga also directed the minister in charge of trade to brief Parliament on the progress of the ban next week.

The absence of the Trade Minister in the House however, prompted MPs to call for a reshuffle of ministers with poor attendance records noting that many matters of national importance have been raised but little action taken by responsible ministers.

Hon Elijah Okupa (Kasilo County) observed that, “the Cabinet has 82 members but we only see two ministers. If they are fatigued, can the President help us and reshuffle such that we get new faces with energy?”