Survey report pins tobacco industry for conniving with NGOs to promote tobacco use among youths.

By Olivia Nabaggala

25^th February 2021

Civil Society actors have accused the tobacco industry over marketing its dangerous products to young people using a cover of allies especially NGOs and environmental conservation groups.

According to the survey conducted by Uganda Health Communication Alliance- UHCA with support from African Tobacco Control Alliance -ATCA, tobacco industry gives huge sums of money to organizations which work with young people in order to portray themselves as safe, an act that is contrary to Uganda’s tobacco control Act 2015.

The survey report entitled “The Big Tobacco Allies” reveals a number of intermediaries of Big Tobacco and how they serve the interests of the tobacco industry in Uganda.

Presiding over the launch of the report, the Chairperson Tobacco Control Committee at the office of the Prime Minister Boaz Musimenta said that the law which regulates the consumption and promotion of tobacco was passed by the parliamentary but lacks serious enforcement.

Dr Hafisa Lukwata Ssentongo who is the tobacco control focal person in the ministry of health called upon all individuals, associations and public agencies to advocate the full implementation of Tobacco Control Alliance and Regulations especially those directly relating to Article 5.3 which is in place.

In his remarks, the executive director Uganda Health Communication Alliance Richard Baguma noted that everyone should raise awareness about the dangers to tobacco especially amongst the youth commending partners in the fight against tobacco.