The Uganda National Tobacco Control Committee (UNTCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda) and civil society organizations (CSOs) involved in tobacco control to strengthen technical cooperation in monitoring, exposing, and countering tobacco industry interference in Uganda.
The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration in monitoring tobacco industry activities, particularly those that interfere with public health policies, fiscal measures, and national budgetary processes. The partnership marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s efforts to safeguard public health from the tobacco industry’s commercial and vested interests.
The National Tobacco Control Committee was established under Section 3 of the Tobacco Control Act, 2015, with a statutory mandate to advise the Minister on national tobacco control policy and to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Act. HEPS-Uganda serves as the host and secretariat of the Tobacco Industry Monitoring Team, a technical body responsible for the systematic monitoring of tobacco industry activities, especially interference in taxation and budgetary processes. Civil society organizations engaged in tobacco control represent the public interest in protecting communities from the harmful effects of tobacco use.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Aggrey Ngobi from the Office of the Prime Minister, who also serves as Chairperson of the Uganda National Tobacco Control Committee, commended stakeholders for their commitment to advancing tobacco control in the country.
“On behalf of the government, I commend all stakeholders who have committed themselves to tobacco control. Every government entity is in support of tobacco control initiatives,” Dr. Ngobi said.
He revealed that discussions have already been held with the Ministry of Finance regarding taxation reforms aimed at reducing tobacco consumption, noting that such reforms are expected to be implemented as part of the government’s broader strategy to curb tobacco use.
However, Dr. Ngobi acknowledged challenges in implementing the Tobacco Control Act, particularly limited resources for large-scale sensitization and public awareness campaigns.
“As a committee, we remain committed to minimizing tobacco consumption. Government is also working towards supporting those involved in tobacco farming to transition to alternative crops,” he added.
Dr. Ngobi further emphasized the critical role of the media, calling on journalists and media houses to support tobacco control efforts through sustained public awareness campaigns and by exposing the tactics used by the tobacco industry to maintain its market presence.
Representing civil society organizations on the Uganda National Tobacco Control Committee, Mr. Moses Talibita called on the government to protect public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.
“All taxes and non-tax revenues collected through different tax systems must be protected from tobacco industry interference. The processes being proposed, including the national budget process, should remain free from industry influence,” Talibita said.
He stressed that safeguarding these processes is essential to protecting public health and ultimately saving lives.
Mr. Kenneth Mwehonge, our Executive Director at HEPS-Uganda, said the signed MoU will significantly strengthen tobacco industry monitoring in the country.
“This MoU ensures enhanced tobacco industry monitoring. We are using established milestones and other tools to systematically expose tobacco industry interference,” Mwehonge explained.
He added that further efforts are underway to uncover and expose emerging tactics used by the tobacco industry to undermine tobacco control policies in Uganda.
The partnership between the National Tobacco Control Committee, HEPS-Uganda, and civil society organizations underscores a shared commitment to protecting public health and ensuring that tobacco control policies are implemented without interference from the tobacco industry.
