Nine arrested with South Sudan Minister for smoking shisha sentenced to fine

The magistrates’ court at Makindye has convicted and sentenced nine people arrested together with South Sudan minister for smoking shisha.

Last week police carried out an operation which targeted smokers of cigarettes and shisha in public places and arrested a number of people including the South Sudan minister at De Posh bar, Savanah bar and Forest bar all found in Muyenga and Kabalaggala suburbs.

The envoy was  released by police after identifying himself but the rest of his colleagues were arraigned in courts of law.

On Friday, the suspects pleaded guilty to charges of smoking in public before asking the court for lenient sentences because they are first time offenders and sole bread winners for their families.

One fining the convicts, Grade one magistrates Edith Mbabazi and Allan Gakyalo warned them and the other members of the public against being involved in the act again or else they would face the wrath of the law.

“This should be a lesson and deterrent measure to other members of the public who intend to get involved in similar acts that the law will catch them,” the magistrates said.

“Tobacco smoking is not only to the public but the product was also banned.”

The Tobacco Control Act 2015 (TCA) which became operational on May 17, 2016 banned the sell, smoking, promotion and importation of shisha, electronic cigarettes and kubar whereas it regulated the sell and consumption of normal cigarettes.

According to the act, a convicted tobacco user and its products consumer is fined a sum of sh240,000 or imprisonment for a year or both.

For the seller, he is fined a sum of sh20 million or even the withdrawal of the business license.