Ten people were arrested in Kabale Municipality on Friday night for smoking in public, as authorities intensified enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act 2015 to curb exposure to second-hand smoke and promote public health.
The suspects, whose names were not disclosed, were apprehended during a targeted operation in the Northern and Central divisions of Kabale Municipality.
The joint exercise was conducted by the Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kabale District Local Government.
According to Oliva Namanya, the Assistant District Health Officer for Kabale, the enforcement campaign, which began in 2023, aims to ensure full compliance with the Tobacco Control Act.
She noted that since the crackdown started, public smoking cases have significantly declined, suggesting improved awareness and adherence.
“I want to emphasize the Ministry of Health’s continued efforts to sensitize the public about the dangers of smoking and the importance of observing the law,” Namanya said, adding that the ten suspects will face prosecution under the provisions of the Act.
She further stressed that the operations will continue until the habit of smoking in public places is completely eliminated.
The Tobacco Control Act, signed into law by President Museveni in September 2015, imposes strict regulations to protect non-smokers from the harmful health, economic, and environmental impacts of tobacco use.
Under the law, offenders risk imprisonment for at least one year, a fine of Shs420,000, or both, for smoking in public or violating designated tobacco-free zones.
