11 Companies Still Producing Banned Sachet Waragi- MPs

By Max Patrick Ocaido

Members of Parliament have established that 11 out of 26 companies are still producing sachet gin (waragi) despite the government ban which takes effect on May 31.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde recently set a new deadline of May 31 to end production and distribution of sachet waragi. Apparently, existing stockpiles of sachet waragi is expected to be utilized by May 31.

While addressing a press conference on Monday at parliament, MPs are worried that by June 01, there will still be sachet waragi in circulation considering that some alcohol companies are reportedly still producing sachet gin despite the May 31 deadline.

“We urge Minister of Trade and UNBS to implement the ban that is meant to be on June 1. The minister said that by May 31, these sachet waragi will be out of the market, but we have established that some factories are still producing it,” Mwine Mpaka (Western Youth MP) said.

The production and consumption of sachet waragi has been regarded dangerous to lives of consumers following reports that the gins are manufactured using life-threatening chemicals such as lead, copper and others.

Andrew Kiiza Kaluya, Kigulu South MP blamed the low implementation of sachet waragi ban on laxity from Ministry of Trade and UNBS whom he suspects could be in bed with some companies who produce the gins.

“By now she [Minister Amelia] should have shown some actions, but we see that some companies are still producing sachet waragi. Our worry is if we just look on then this thing will drag on and on by end of May,” he said.

Mawokota South MP John Bosco Lubyayi said that the ban on sachet waragi is not only hazardous to the health of consumers, but also disastrous to the environment and that its ban could go a long way to conserve the environment against kaveera (polythene bags). He commended the 15 companies that have complied with the directive, urging that 11 others are still defiant.

The MPs said that sachet waragi such as Royal gin, Empire gin, Afande gin, Gorilla gins are still in circulation. They also alleged that officials from Ministry of Trade and UNBS could be taking huge bribes from these sachet waragi manufacturing companies to keep them in the market.

“We shall not entertain any more lifting of ban. The ban was first set for November 2017, then extended to March 2019 and now it is May 31. We have given them [ministry] enough time and starting June 1, we do not want to see any more sachet waragi on the market,” Mwine Mpaka said.