Smokers of tobacco products including Sasha, Kubba, Cigarette, among others have been slapped with a stringent provision under the Tobacco Control Bill 2014.
In the bill, the smokers must ensure that they do their thing in a radius not within 100meters from a public place which includes a work place, community halls, taxis, church, markets and disco theques among others.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the sponsor of this bill, told a media workshop at parliament that the intention of this bill is particularly to inconvenience the smoker so that he or she can abandon her habit that’s why they put 100mtrs which will always lead the from one public place to another.
The MP also said that the bill seeks to prohibit sell of tobacco products whereby those selling cigarettes, they will not be allowed to display their item [cigarette] but instead, they should hide it and wait for customers.
The same sellers will not be allowed to give this product to minors and in this case, a minor has been described as someone who is below the age of 21 years.
He said the bill however is not seeking to ban growing or sell of tobacco/products but to regulate its usage, manufacturing, labeling and sell.
He said a multi-sectoral committee headed by office of the prime minister whose secretariat shall be manned by health ministry is going to be set up and the purpose of this committee is to monitor the day to day implementation of this bill once passed into an Act.
The committee will comprise ministries like education, health, agriculture, trade, foreign and internal affairs.
Baryomunsi said tobacco causes ulcers, cancer, and diabetes, kills body organs like gal bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, brain, throat, teeth, tongue, colon, heart, veins, bones, and penis among others.