Parliament rejects Alcohol Control Bill 2023, citing financial implication on consolidated fund

Parliament has rejected the Alcohol Control Bill, 2023 that sought to regulate the purchase, sale and consumption of alcohol as the Committees argued that if passed in the current state, the Bill would impose a financial implication on the Consolidated Fund.

The private members Bill that was introduced for the first time by Tororo District Woman Representative, Sarah Opendi in November 2023 also aimed to regulate the time and premises where alcohol would be sold in Uganda.

The decision to reject the processing of the Bill followed the presentation of the report from the Committees of Trade and Health by Sylvia Nayebare during the plenary sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

 “The committee therefore, recommends that this August House should not proceed on the motion for Second Reading of the Alcoholic Drinks (Control) Bill, 2023,” Nayebare said adding that, ‘this being a Private Member’s Bill, the committee is constrained to consider the proposed amendments that have an effect of imposing a financial charge on the Consolidated Fund,” Nayebare guided. 

The committee also urged government to focus on the illicit trade of alcohol which accounts for 65 per cent of all the alcohol consumed in the country, saying the new bill does not indicate how it intends to eliminate the illicit trade in alcoholic drinks

“The committee notes that whereas regulation of the Alcohol industry is good, such regulation should be fair, balanced, evidence-based and sustainable taking into account the various stakeholders,” the committee report read in part.

Aruu County Member of Parliament, Christopher Komakech who presented a minority report said that the Bill is necessary and would go a long way in regulating the sector and resolve the related challenges.

“Restricting the hours of sale is a good step in creating a sense of responsibility for citizens who cannot control their consumption behaviors,” he argued.

The Attorney General, Kiwanuka Kiryowa, tasked Parliament to reject the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, saying the implementation of the Bill if passed into law would impose a charge and alter the consolidated fund, contrary to provisions in the law.

“This Bill in our view offends Article 93 (a)(2) of the Constitution which provides that you shall not proceed on a bill which has a financial implication on the consolidated fund or an alteration of the same. From the reading of the majority report, you can clearly see that the implementation of this bill if passed will have an effect on the consolidated fund. So, for that reason alone, I will be moving that the Bill be rejected by the House,” he said.

Kiwanuka added, “This Bill will contradict the Employment Act because it is looking to guide on the issue of employment of a person and minors. This is both governed by the Employment Act and Children’s Act. We have a law which provides for Industrial licensing, when you are setting up a manufactory, and this is what governs all factories big or small that manufacture. But if we now create another section that is dealing with a section of manufactories, we are likely to cause contradiction in implementation.”

While moving the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023 for second reading, Opendi argued that the Bill intends to protect consumers from alcohol abuse.

“We need revenue but we also need a healthy population that will be productive to support this economy,” she said.