The parliamentary committees of trade and health are asking for more time to engage stakeholders on the matter of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023.

“Cognizant of the challenges of processing a bill by two committees, I am therefore requesting for more time of 30 days, because we still have some stakeholders that we need to engage,” said Charles Ayume, Chairperson Health Committee.

Ayume reasoned that unforeseen factors like the Christmas break, the House adjournment due to the budget framework paper, and the death of Cecilia Ogwal had not enabled them finish consulting with stakeholders likely to be affected by the bill.

While Ayume had asked for 30 days, the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, instead agreed to 20 days given the volume of work that Parliament has to consider including the 2024/25 national budget and other bills.

“I can see you have mobilised all excuses, this is a very critical bill where we need wide consultation, but my worry is, we are going to receive other bills from Government for harmonization, and then we have to go into the critical part of the budget process, so 20days should be enough for you,” said Tayebwa.

In November 2023, the district woman member of parliament for Tororo district, Sarah Opendi, tabled the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023 on the floor of Parliament.

In the bill, Opendi proposed 10-year jail term or a Shs20m fine or both, for anyone found selling alcohol before 5pm and after 10 pm on weekdays, while on weekends and public holidays, alcohol would be sold between midday and midnight.