Summary:
- In September 2015, President Yoweri Museveni assented to the Tobacco Control Act, which provides for stringent measures aimed at protecting nonsmokers from the health, social, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco use and exposure.
KABALE: Police in Kabale District have arrested 13 suspects accused of public smoking in violation of the Tobacco Control Act 2015.
The suspects, whose names have been withheld, were arrested on Thursday and Friday night during a targeted operation conducted by the police, officials from the tobacco control department in the Ministry of Health, and health inspectors from Kabale district.
According to the Kabale District Health Officer, Dr. Gilbert Arinaitwe Mateeka, the joint operations were launched in response to the increasing number of complaints and reports regarding public smoking in various areas of Kabale district and across the country.
Dr. Mateeka added that the Ministry of Health has been actively involved in creating awareness about the dangers of smoking and the need to adhere to the Tobacco Control Act. However, these efforts have not been sufficient to deter individuals from engaging in this harmful habit.
Dr. Mateeka revealed that the 13 individuals arrested in the joint operation will face legal consequences for their actions, as outlined in the Tobacco Control Act. He added that this will serve as a warning to others who continue to disregard the law and engage in public smoking.
CUE IN DR MATEEKA…..ON OPERATIONS…..RR/ENG//
In September 2015, President Yoweri Museveni assented to the Tobacco Control Act, which provides for stringent measures aimed at protecting nonsmokers from the health, social, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco use and exposure. The Act stipulates imprisonment for a term not less than a year or a fine of 420,000 shillings, or both, for violators.
