Health experts are asking legislators to pass the Tobacco Control Bill 2014 into law when parliament resumes to protect the health of Ugandans.
The bill that aims at regulating tobacco manufacture, sponsorships and protecting children from exposure to tobacco products is at committee stage waiting to be tabled before parliament.
Dr. Sheila Ndyanabagi the officer in charge mental health at the ministry of health says the bill does not intend to phase out tobacco production in the country but rather regulating its consumption.
The health experts’ call comes at a time when the country’s expenditure on treating non-communicable diseases like cancer and heart diseases which are all by tobacco consumption is growing.