Is smoking illegal in Uganda? Here are the smoking facts on Uganda.

Are you wondering if smoking is illegal in Uganda? Countries that ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of 2007 are expected to legislate against smoking. The legislation aims at regulating the harm that is said to have been caused by smoking on humanity.

Smoking in Uganda is not illegal. The country however has a legislation that regulates tobacco smoking. The law intends to create a harmonized environment between smokers and non smokers.

Tobacco is not sold to persons below the age of 21 years in Uganda.

Why it matters: Although tobacco smoking is not illegal in Uganda, there are restrictions which you must know in order to avoid getting in conflict with the law.If you are planning to travel to Uganda or running a business that hosts smokers, reading this article will be helpful to you.

The big picture: Tobacco is said to have adverse effects on both the smoker and non smokers. Since the ratification of the FCTC, countries started regulating smoking. Uganda is an FCTC member country. Uganda passed the Tobacco Control Act in 2015 which requires hotel owners and proprietors of public places to regulate smoking in such places.

Find a cheap hotel room in Uganda

While in Uganda, don’t attempt to smoke when you are in an indoor public place or in a public transport such as bus, matatu and train.

Shisha smoking in a public place is banned in Uganda.

If you can’t resist smoking, please ask your host for a Tobacco smoking zone. A smoking zone is a special place gazetted for smokers in a public place like hotels and other public places including churches, schools and shopping centres. The smoking zone must by law, be 50 meters away from a public place or inlets like windows, doors and ventilators that helps to take air in indoor places.

If you are below 21 years, please carry your own cigarettes because Uganda banned the sale of cigarettes to people below the age of 21 years.

Before the law was passed, smoking had become rampant. Many of Ugandan youths were on drugs especially marijuana which is said to have been the major cause of menta issues in the country.

By the numbers:

  1. Smoking rate in Uganda has dropped from 10.90% in 2015 to 8.4% in 2020
  2. $60 or two months in prison if you smoke in an un-gazetted place. Punishment can be both.

What they have to say: Moses Talibita, the legal officer at the Uganda National Health Consumers Organization (UNHCO) says that cigarette smoking has diverse effects especially if smoked passively. He advises hotel to adhere to the law in order to protect their customers.

In case you need more information on tobacco usage in Uganda, please talk to Dr. Sheila Ndyanabangi, the Tobacco Control Focal Point at the Uganda’s Ministry of Health.

1 comment

  1. Kibumba julian

    January 20, 2023

    These are good control measures of cigarette related health issues.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

 / 

Sign in

Send Message

My favorites