The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has hosted legislators from Tanzania, who visited Uganda to learn from their fellow MPs, about the process of enacting a Tobacco Control bill. The visiting team was led by Hon. Dr. Faustine Englebet Ndunglile, mover of the motion to table the TC Bill in Tanzania. Others included Hon. Dr. Stephen Kebwe Kebwe, Serengeti, and Hon. Albert Obama Ntabaliba. They were accompanied by
Dr. Norman B. Sabuni, Tobacco Control Focal Person, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Ms. Lutgard Kokulinda Kagaruki, from the Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum.
Addressing the visiting legislators, the Speaker of the Uganda Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga reiterated the need for all the countries in the region to be at the same level of tobacco control adding that this would help to overcome the challenges associated with the interference from the tobacco industry. She said a number of consultations have been made in Uganda by various stakeholders, adding that she is confident that when the Bill gets tabled in Parliament, it will not meet a lot of opposition. She reiterated her commitment to ensuring that the Bill is passed as soon as possible, adding that what is holding Parliament back is the Certificate of Financial implications, which is a requirement for a Private Members Bill.
Hon. Dr. Faustine Englebet Ndunglile, the leader of the Tanzania delegation said his country is simply beginning the process, adding that he has submitted the intention for the Bill to Parliament. He said the visit to Uganda is very critical because it gives them an opportunity to have a better understanding and appreciation of the process and how to overcome the challenges.
The mover of the motion, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi said the Bill is based on the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ( FCTC), which many countries in Africa have ratified. He however noted that a number of countries like Uganda are behind schedule for domesticating the FCTC, which is supposed to be five years after ratification. Uganda, he said, ratified the FCTC in 2007.
Hon. Baryomunsi said the process in Uganda has been delayed because of the need to consult with all the key stakeholders, both at the national and regional levels including the farmers and the leaders from the tobacco growing regions.
The Secretary of the Parliamentary Forum on NCDs, Hon. Evelyn Naomi Kaabule hailed the Tobacco Control partners and Stakeholders for the strong team spirit which, she said, has greatly facilitated the entire Bill process. She said according to the consultations carried out among the District Leaders from the Tobacco growing regions, the people in the communities area actually calling for banning as opposed to controlling tobacco.
The Manager of the Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa ( CTCA), Dr. Possy Mugyenyi said that CTCA, with technical support from WHO, are spearheading efforts of implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ( FCTC) in the region., and would like to ensure that all the EAC Countries move at the same pace. Dr. Mugyenyi explained that Uganda has learnt a lot from the processes undertake before enacting the Bill in Kenya, and hoped that Tanzania will also be able to learn from Uganda’s experience. The visit of the Tanzanian legislators was facilitated by CTCA.