Health Activists Call for Protection of Youth from Illicit Tobacco Products

Activists under the Uganda Tobacco Taxation Coalition (UTTC) have asked the government and its enforcement agencies to protect young people from illicit tobacco products supplied in leisure and entertainment places.

The activists led by Moses Talibita said almost all high-end places frequented by the young adults are piled with illicit tobacco products, which is against the Tobacco Control Act 2015. Talibita said action must be taken to promote and respect the health rights that require people to live or stay in places not polluted by tobacco products.

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UTTC explained that tobacco dealers have since shifted from making direct advertisements of their products using legacy media to less regulated digital advertisements. The association said they have established that tobacco product dealers have created tactics they are using to undermine public health policy legislation and programs.

Health activists added that the tobacco industry beneficiaries are clandestinely lobbying Members of Parliament to weaken the Tobacco Control Act, 2015, which raises significant concerns regarding public health, influence in policymaking, and potential conflicts of interest.

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The youth and other citizens' access to tobacco products, which should not be on the market, violates Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Tobacco Control Act, 2015, which bans tobacco advertising, marketing, packaging and labeling by promoting tobacco products on digital platforms. 

“There is a growing presence of banned tobacco products in the market, including Oris, which blatantly disregards regulations on descriptors, coloring, branding, and graphics. Spot checks in various markets indicate that Oris is widely available and being openly abused,” Talibita, who spoke on behalf of UTTC, said.

UTTC said tobacco dealers are not fully complying with mandatory reporting requirements to the government, regarding marketing and sponsorship activities, among others and continues to promote its products on digital platforms without disclosing such activities to regulators, undermining transparency and regulatory oversight.

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UTTC also blamed media houses which have recently reported stories indicating that efforts are being taken to ensure their tobacco products pose with health risks. They said stories showing that research is being done to ensure ‘safer’ tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products, are all influenced by beneficiaries against the health rights of Ugandans.

“Articles have been published claiming tobacco dealers are sponsoring research towards reducing the health impact of tobacco through reduced-risk alternatives such as nicotine pouches. This narrative has been widely questioned, as it aligns with industry strategies to promote alternative nicotine products while downplaying the broader risks associated with tobacco consumption,” Talibita said.

Health activists have urged the government to fast-track the adoption of the Illicit Trade Protocol (ITP) to strengthen efforts against the illegal tobacco trade to safeguard public health, increase revenue collection, and combat illegal trade effectively.

The government has been called upon to reinforce enforcement on the sale, distribution of tobacco products with no clear health warnings of tobacco products. This, health activists said, would strengthen enforcement mechanisms to hold the tobacco industry accountable to comply with mandatory reporting requirements.

Also, policymakers, civil society, and the public should continue to demand transparency and accountability from the tobacco industry to safeguard public health and uphold the integrity of the Tobacco Control Act, 2015.