Joyce Namugambe
Mbarara city leaders have called upon goverment to implement strict laws on alcoholism which is becoming a common behaviour in Mbarara city especially among the youth which is affecting their productivity.
This comes at a time when the youth in the city excessively consume alcohol regardless of the age and education level which happens in the slums of Kajogo, Biafra, Kijungu, Kisenyi and Kashanyarazi.
The Mbarara city clerk Assy Abireebe, showed concern over the habbit in the city and calls on the parliament of Uganda to govern the production and consumption of alcohol in the country. He emphasized that without an enabling law, it is challenging to control the timing, sales, and consumption of alcohol.
One of the youth, who was spotted drinking alcohol in the morning near abar next to Mbarara central market said that he resorted to consuming alcohol due to the stress caused by economic hardships in the country, siting unemployment which is rampant among the youth. He notes that the youth use drinking alcohol as a mechanism to fight stress caused by unemployment.
Another youth noted that he was working as a restaurant manager and was dismissed due to alcoholism and seeks to get salvation through any religous denomination as he has hope that this will help him to get rid of the addiction.
The Deputy resident city commissioner for Mbarara city North, Robert Kanusu appealed to the young youth to form groups and make use of goverment programs to overcome idleness since unemployment is the leading cause of their adiction. He warned that they are determined to arrest and prosecute who ever gets involved in crimes as aresult of alcoholism.
The secretary for community development in Mbarara city Abass Kazibwe noted that since alcoholism affects the productivity of the youth in the city, it as well affects the city’s development, leads to insecurity due to drug and acohol abuse, and mental health problems in the long run. He advocated for skilling and income-generating projects as an alternative to laws.
The Rwiz region police spokesperson Samson Kasasira pointed out that alcohol abuse contributes to high criminal rate such as domestic violence, theft, murder among others, and warned that police is ready to arrest the offenders.
