A review of the laws regulating tobacco cultivation and consumption in Uganda
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Date
2006-11
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Kampala International University, School of Law
Abstract
Uganda ratified the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(WHO FCTC) in June 2007, and passed the Tobacco Control Act (2015) in September 2015 in
compliance with (WHOFCTC) which requires signatories to pass local legislations aimed at
controlling tobacco use in their states. Tobacco Control Act, 2015 is the primary law regulating
tobacco cultivation and use in Uganda. However, there are some existing laws that lend limited
support to tobacco control efforts, but these have not been effective. For example: The 1995
Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, under article 39 that provides for a right to a clean and
health environment, The National Environment Act 1996, in section 58(!), The Public Health
Act (!964), section l3(a) and section !3(b), The National Environment (control of smoking in
public places) Regulations 2004, Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006, Uganda standards
313; 2002 among others. Despite the existence of some tobacco control related laws and smoke
free regulations, enforcement has remained the biggest challenge for agencies mandated to bring
them to bear. There is very little awareness among the general Ugandan public of the existence
of these laws, but even more worryingly, amongst statutory bodies such as the Judiciary, District
authorities and the Ugandan Police Force. Some owners of public places do display 'No
Smoking' signs on their premises, but this is only as far as they are willing to go. The tobacco
industry in Uganda continues to advertise, promote and sponsor activities aimed at increasing
demand for tobacco products especially amongst the youth. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey
' (GYTS, 2007) indicates that overall 15.6% of !3- 15 year old students have smoked cigarettes.
The rate among boys that have used tobacco is significantly higher (19.2%) than among girls
(!!.2%). There are, however, some gains noted as tobacco advettising is less explicit than it was
previously. For instance, there are virtually no billboards advertising tobacco products, although
Point of Sale (POS) violations do stand out prominently. The findings of this repmt on Uganda's
compliance with the FCTC with specific regard to Articles 8 and 13 on "protection from
exposure to second-hand smoke" and "tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship (TAPS)"
respectively, suggests that there are glaring gaps in the implementation of the Convention that
Uganda ratified in June 2007.
Description
A research report submitted to the school of law in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Bachelor of laws Degree of Kampala International University
Keywords
Agricultural law, Tobacco cultivation, Tobacco consumption, Uganda