The Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol Uganda Chapter (CAIA–Uganda) has cautioned Ugandans against consuming illicit alcohol during the festive season, citing rising health risks linked to unregulated spirits as social gatherings and celebrations intensify.
Launching a nationwide campaign on December 22, 2025, CAIA–Uganda said illicit alcohol remains one of the country’s most persistent yet under-addressed public health threats, particularly during holidays when demand for alcohol spikes.
According to a 2025 White Paper titled, "Public Health Implications of the Harmful Consumption of Illicit Alcohol in Uganda", an estimated 65 to 67 per cent of all alcohol consumed in Uganda is illicit.
The study was published by Arrow Empirical Research & Skills Enhancement Co. Ltd (AERSE) with supporting data from Euromonitor International.
The research highlights worrying consumption patterns, including early initiation into illicit alcohol use, often before the age of 18, and entrenched drinking behaviours.
It found that four in ten illicit alcohol users consume alcohol daily, a trend that researchers say becomes more pronounced during festive periods.
The campaign was officially launched through street activations featuring a giant bottle installation at Garden City and Jinja Road roundabouts in Kampala.
The installation is intended to serve as a visual reminder of the hidden dangers associated with illicit alcohol and to prompt the public to pause and reflect on their drinking choices.
CAIA–Uganda said the campaign will run throughout the festive season and into the new year, using radio, print media, community outreaches and public education activities to raise awareness, dispel myths surrounding illicit alcohol and promote informed decision-making at both individual and community levels.
The coalition noted that the timing of the campaign is deliberate, as festive celebrations increase the availability and consumption of alcohol, heightening exposure to illicit products that are unregulated and unsafe.
Illicit spirits are commonly packaged in small plastic bottles, reused branded containers or sold after being decanted from jerrycans, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish them from regulated products.
Beyond immediate health risks, CAIA–Uganda warned that illicit alcohol consumption has broader social and economic consequences, including increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity and added strain on families and communities.
The coalition stressed that abuse of all forms of alcohol is discouraged.
CAIA–Uganda urged adults of legal drinking age who choose to drink to avoid illicit alcohol and opt for regulated products that meet established safety standards, while also safeguarding children and young people from exposure to alcohol.
The coalition said it hopes that sustained public engagement and awareness efforts during the festive season will contribute to safer celebrations and reduced harm across the country.
CAIA–Uganda is hosted by Reach A Hand Uganda and brings together government institutions, civil society, youth- and faith-based organisations, academia, media and private sector actors to address harm caused by illicit alcohol.
Its partners include Brands On A Mission, Anti Counterfeit Network, Arrow Empirical Research & Skills Enhancement Co. Ltd, ADAAM, Uganda Industry Alcohol Association, NBS, Bleep and Grandstone.