The Tobacco control bill 2014 which aims at regulating tobacco manufacture, sponsorships and protecting minors from purchasing cigarettes among others has this afternoon been tabled in Parliament.
The mover of the private member’s bill Dr. Chris Baryomunsi (Kinkiizi west) explained that the bill does not intend to phase out tobacco in the country but is after regulating its consumption and emphasizing measures on its production.
Baryomunsi said the bill comes at a time when the country’s expenditure is higher on non-communicable diseases like cancer and heart diseases among others which are all orchestrated by tobacco production or consumption.
Baryomunsi and Ndorwa west MP David Bahati who seconded the bill note that they will continue working closely with Ministry of health to have in place a supervisory committee to follow up its implementation once passed into an Act.
Meanwhile, Speaker Kadaga has committed the Tobacco control bill 2014 to the parliamentary committee on health for scrutiny.