Uganda is facing a growing alcohol abuse crisis, with new findings showing rising consumption among women and young people, widespread heavy drinking, and weak enforcement of alcohol control measures across the country.
The concerns are highlighted in the Uganda Alcohol Status Report (ASR) 2026, a nationwide review unveiled during a stakeholder validation meeting held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala.
According to the report, Uganda remains among the countries with the highest burden of harmful alcohol consumption in the World Health Organization African Region. The study found that the pooled prevalence of alcohol use within the past month stands at 33.7 percent.
The prevalence is significantly higher among men at 46.1 percent, while fishing communities registered the highest rates at 52.6 percent.
Researchers further established that more than half of current drinkers engage in Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED), while alcohol use during pregnancy stands at 30.8 percent, raising concern among public health experts.
Speaking during the meeting, Richard Baguma, Chairperson of the Executive Board of the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance, described the findings as alarming.
“More than a quarter of men in this country drink alcohol on a daily basis. Every time you get 10 people, a quarter of them are taking alcohol every day,” Baguma said.
He noted that the report revealed a strong connection between poverty and alcohol consumption, with poorer regions recording higher drinking rates.
“If you compare poverty statistics with regions consuming large amounts of alcohol such as Karamoja and Busoga, you realise they are also among the poorest regions. The poorer you are, the more alcohol you drink in this country,” he said.
Baguma also warned about the rising levels of alcohol consumption among young people.
“One of the most worrying trends is that alcohol is increasingly being consumed by the youth. There is a rapid increase in alcohol consumption among young people,” he added.
He blamed the trend on weak regulation and limited enforcement of existing laws.
“These trends are happening in an environment where there is almost no regulation. People can drink anytime they want and consume any type of alcohol they want,” he said.
The report revealed that only 14.6 percent of districts in Uganda currently have operational alcohol regulations, exposing major gaps between national policy and district-level implementation.
Prudence Arurinde, the Secretary General of the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance, said the increasing number of women consuming alcohol should worry both policymakers and families.
“We are seeing more women consuming alcohol, especially in regions like Karamoja, Teso and West Nile. What does this mean for our families? Who is taking care of the children?” she asked.
Arurinde described the report as an eye-opener and called for stronger national alcohol regulation.
“We are pushing for a national policy and stronger regulation because many people are consuming alcohol without understanding the consequences,” she said.
She also called for a coordinated response involving different ministries and agencies to address the growing problem of unregulated and unrecorded alcohol.
The report identified several factors associated with alcohol use, including low socioeconomic status, limited education, HIV status, and proximity to alcohol outlets.
Researchers linked excessive alcohol consumption to increased risks of HIV infection, intimate partner violence, tuberculosis, poor mental health, hypertension, diabetes, and several forms of cancer.
Dr Hafsa Lukwata Sentongo, Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health and Control of Substance Use at the Ministry of Health, said the rise in alcohol use among women and young people should concern the country.
“We are seeing quite a number of women joining the bandwagon. Initially, alcohol consumption was mainly associated with men, with very few women involved,” she said.
She warned that alcohol consumption during pregnancy could have long-term effects on children.
“If a mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy, the child may suffer several complications. Their brain development may be affected compared to children who were not exposed to alcohol,” she said.
Sentongo also expressed concern over the widespread sale of unregulated alcohol.
“Most of the alcohol being consumed is unrecorded. These are products that are not taxed and have not gone through proper quality checks,” she said.
She warned that some products could be adulterated, exposing consumers to poisoning and other serious health complications.
“We know alcohol is responsible for more than 200 diseases, especially non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and cancers, which are all increasing,” she added.
The report recommends the urgent enactment and funding of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill 2023/2024, stricter controls on alcohol advertising, mandatory health warnings, district alcohol ordinances, and the integration of alcohol screening into primary healthcare and HIV services.
Researchers also called for increased investment in national surveillance systems and more studies on the economic burden caused by alcohol-related harm in Uganda.
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