Debate on Tobacco Control Bill suspended
The Bill, among others, seeks to control consumption of tobacco products. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE.
What you need to know:
Controversial Bill. The Tobacco Control Bill, which seeks to control the sale and use of tobacco products, is a highly controversial Bill.
Kampala. Debate on the Tobacco Control Bill, 2014, was on Tuesday deferred after Parliament failed to strike a compromise on key provisions.
The proposed law seeks to heavily control the manufacture, sale and use of tobacco products.
It also seeks to regulate labelling, advertising and promotion, distribution and use of tobacco products.
Mr Jacob Oulanyah, the deputy Speaker of Parliament, on Tuesday halted the debate on the Bill to allow MPs harmonise contentious provisions.
One such provision is banning the display and visibility of legitimate tobacco products.
The Bill, which a section of Ugandans, including Uganda Law Society and Private Sector Foundation Uganda, deem unfair and oppressive has generated a lot of debate with leading players rejecting it in its current form.
Early this week the Hotel Owners Association weighed in on the debate, saying the provision for designated smoking areas as it is in the Bill is problematic.
This provision demands that anyone wishing to smoke should do so 50 metres away from any public place.
Hotel Owners Association say this will leave adult smokers with no place to consume a legitimate product which is a human right contravention.
Ms Jean Byamugisha, the Hotel Owners Association president yesterday said the provision of designated smoking areas will have financial implication on the services and hospitality industry.
“We already have smoking zones. These provisions will mean that we build more designated places which will have financial implications on our side,” she said.
Tobacco dangers
The danger. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death accounting for more than 5.2 million deaths per year globally, which is more than the deaths due to malaria and HIV.
