KCCA opens war on smokers and shisha, slaps huge fine on culprits
A puff of Shisha or cigarette will now cost one Shs 200,000 or six months in prison, according to Kampala Capital City Authority, well that is besides the cost you would have been charged to obtain the same.
This follows a move by the Authority to implement the 2015 Tobacco Control Act which banned smoking in public places. Smoking is only allowed 15 metres from a public place, according to the Act.
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The Public Health Director at KCCA, Dr Daniel Okello said they want to make Kampala smoke free as a means to implement the Tobacco Act.
“That is why we want to make Kampala smoke free because we know smoking kills and it is actually preventable, so all our actions are to prevent deaths due to tobacco use and not for only smoking but also smokeless products that are outside there,” Okello said.
The measures extend to the consumption of Shisha which is completely outlawed by the Act.
“Smoking is banned in bars and restaurants. Shisha is one of those things that was banned totally. You are completely not supposed to have Shisha in this country. The moment you are found with it you must have smuggled it. We have put there fines and you will be charged if you don’t pay the fine and consequently imprisoned for six months,” Dr Hasifa Lukwata, the Focal Person Tobacco Control for Ministry of Health remarked.
The Uganda Tobacco Control Act 2015 was gazette was passed by Parliament on 28th July 2015, and was assented to by the President on 19th September 2015. The Act is a fulfilment of Uganda’s obligations to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which the country signed on 5th March 2004 and ratified on 20th June 2007.
This is the umpteenth time that the government is banning smoking in public places with the first being on March 24, 2004 through a directive by then Environment minister Kahida Otafiire.
Otafiire then said any culprits would be fined between Shs50,000 and 180,000 once arrested. While enforcing the ban, Otafiire said it was only an enforcement from a court directive issued two years earlier (December 2002).
