KAMPALA - The Executive Director of Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL), Rogers Kasirye, has urged his government to emulate Rwanda and impose a ban on packaging of alcohol in polythene packs.

He said this Wednesday while addressing the members of the press at his offices in Kampala, about the people who died after taking illicit poisonous liquor in different parts of the country.

It is reported that more than 16 people in different parts of Uganda have died within the last two weeks as a result of drinking a poisonous brand of gin.

"Easy availability of alcohol in Uganda influences high levels of consumption which exposes the population, especially the youth, to different dangers,” said Kasirye.

However, the Ministry of Health suspects that the deaths could have been as a result of drinking alcohol containing industrial methanol.

"Government should increase its surveillance through the local authorities and Uganda Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and ensure that illicit brewing of alcohol is completely banned,” he said.

Kasirye added that Uganda should emulate Rwandan laws by imposing a ban on all illicit brewing of alcohol and packaging of it in sachets.

"People’s lives must be protected, we shall not keep a deaf ear when our brothers and sisters are losing their lives to this poisonous Waragi,” said Kasirye.

According to media reports, in 2005 the World Health Organisation (WHO) ranked Uganda as one of the leading consumers of alcohol in the Africa.

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