Health activists have urged the government to take decisive action to address the alarming rise in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) consumption in the country, especially among the youth.
Activists say the trend poses significant health risks, including the effects of cancer and heart disease, particularly to women and youth, who are increasingly targeted by the tobacco industry in this new trend.
Addressing journalists on Saturday, Mr Richard Baguma Tinkasimiire, the National Coordinator of the Uganda Health Communication Alliance (UHCA), said the tobacco industry has shifted from its traditional form by rebranding to e-cigarette types like ice cream, lipstick, cookies, and cakes, among other types, which the government needs to address.
“There have been innovations in putting different tobacco products on the market; you may find someone having an e-cigarette in the form of lipstick or chocolate, which is difficult to identify. This can be easily used by students at schools, women, and youths, which puts their future life in danger,” Mr Baguma said.
A recent report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that e-cigarette emissions typically contain nicotine and other toxic substances that are harmful to users and non-users and increase the risk of heart disease and lung disorders.
The WHO report also shows that globally, tobacco products kill more than 7 million people annually, with an estimated 1.6 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke. Around 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO further revealed that nicotine exposure in pregnant women can have negative health consequences on the foetus, and nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance, is damaging for brain development.
The Tobacco Control Act of 2015 provides for inspection and investigation, testing, and examination of the manufacturing process of tobacco in Uganda.
Mr Baguma highlights that illegal tobacco products still flood the Ugandan markets as a result of corruption from some government officials.
“Corruption and weakening of government agencies have partially contributed to the surge of e-cigarettes in Uganda. Some of the Chinese and Indian nationalists who bring tobacco products into Uganda are unregulated and don’t pay tax, given tax incentives,” he claimed.
He appealed to the government to heavily tax these products by increasing the 70% excise duty tax on every packet to reduce the health budget, increase government revenues, and protect the youth from the associated problems, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The government is spending a lot on cancer and heart diseases; we need to keep our voices going. We also need to advocate for the females because they are the most targeted by the tobacco industry,” he recounted.
In the same regard, Ms Samantha Kkungu, a health specialist, underscored the need for the government to fully implement all the provisions in the Tobacco Control Act of 2015, namely, a ban on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship placements on the internet or through broadcasts or other communications technologies.
“The law prohibited the selling and advertising of tobacco products in public places, online, and in broadcast media, but online platforms still sell their products openly, like Jumia and Jijji; in bars, shisha, and Oris are still sold openly, yet they were banned. The government needs to comprehensively address these gaps,” Ms Kkungu stressed.
