The World Health Statistics 2023 Report ranks Uganda among the leading countries for high rates of alcohol consumption.
According to the WHO report, it is estimated that Ugandans currently consume 12.2 litres of alcohol per person annually, which is significantly higher than the global average.
Dr. Hafsa Lukwata, the Ministry of Health Commissioner for Mental Health, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse, made this announcement during the second National Prefects Conference 2023, a gathering focused on combating drug abuse among students in Uganda. Dr. Lukwata stated that increasing the age limit aims to reduce the number of people purchasing alcohol, as studies have shown that if individuals have not consumed addictive substances by the age of 21, their likelihood of doing so later in life is significantly reduced. She mentioned that at 18 years of age, the chances of substance consumption are at 48%, while at 21 years, the chances decrease to 88%.
Dr. Lukwata expressed concern over Uganda’s ranking as the top consumer of alcohol in Africa, based on a 2023 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) that stated the average Ugandan consumes 12.21 liters of pure alcohol per year. The report also highlighted that men consume more alcohol than women, with an average of 19.93 liters per year for men compared to 4.88 liters for women. This situation has raised alarms regarding the country’s development and prompted the need for action against drug and alcohol abuse.
At the event, Mr. Saidi Nsamba, the Commissioner of Guidance and Counselling at the Ministry of Education and Sports, shared concerns about students resorting to smoking substances like grey hair, paspalum, and cow dung, noting that this issue has extended from urban to rural areas. SCP Namutebi Hadijah, the Acting Chief Political Commissar of the Uganda Police Force, discussed penalties against drug use, highlighting the need to address the gap left by the annulment of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 2015, which had prohibited the sale and use of various narcotics in the country.
The World Health Organization’s 2023 report further emphasized the harmful effects of alcohol consumption, stating that it contributes to over 200 diseases and injuries globally and is a factor in about 5.3% of all deaths, resulting in approximately three million deaths annually.
