Advocates for tobacco harm reduction are pressing the government to revise the Tobacco Control Act to incorporate strategies that focus on minimising the health risks of smoking rather than solely aiming for total cessation.
These advocates argue that by modernising the law, the government can provide smokers with safer alternatives and reduce the overall harm caused by tobacco use.
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One key aspect of this approach is encouraging smokers to switch to alternative nicotine products like e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or heated tobacco products.
While these alternatives are not without risk, they are believed to be about 95 percent less harmful than traditional cigarettes, offering a safer option for those who find it difficult to quit smoking.
Tobacco use if not stopped can be the cause of death in 50% of its users according to the World Health Organisation.
The harmful effects of tobacco use impact both smokers and non-smokers, contributing to six of the top eight leading causes of death globally.
Tobacco harm reduction involves switching to less harmful nicotine products for those who struggle to quit smoking or using nicotine altogether.
Nicotine, while addictive, has relatively minor health effects, except during pregnancy.
The focus of harm reduction is on reducing the damage caused by smoking, not necessarily on eliminating nicotine use itself.
Tobacco harm reduction activist Joshua Omunuk highlighted these concerns at the Nicotine Summit in Kampala.
He acknowledged that the 2015 Tobacco Control Act has made progress in addressing smoking-related societal issues but criticised it for not offering adequate solutions for smokers, those wanting to quit, or individuals seeking safer alternatives.
According to Omunuk, the current law primarily benefits non-smokers and anti-smoking advocates, while neglecting the needs of tobacco users.
Omunuk suggested that the government should approach smoking addiction in the same way it does drug addiction, arguing that the current quit-smoking programs haven’t been effective for many smokers.
He called for more compassionate solutions to help those struggling with smoking addiction and emphasised the need for a fresh approach.
Activist Joel Sawa also stressed the importance of aligning Uganda’s policies with international best practices to better address tobacco use.
He called for a national educational campaign to inform the public about the benefits of tobacco harm reduction and the availability of low-risk nicotine alternatives.
Sawa highlighted the need to provide smokers with clear, evidence-based information to support their efforts to quit smoking.
A survey by Tobacco Harm Reduction Uganda in Lira District (2022) and Bukedea District (2023) revealed that 75% of oral cancer patients had a history of smoking, with quitting or dying as their only option.
The survey also found that most smokers started at age 13, and 90% felt the current law didn’t help them quit.
Nathan Emong, a former smoker from Bukedea, shared his story of quitting after smoking for seven years. He suffered from frequent illnesses and chest pain, which motivated him to stop.
Emong used to smoke 8 to 10 cigarettes a day while socialising at bars, but now, after a year of being smoke-free, he advocates for government action to help others quit.
There is strong evidence that smokers who use e-cigarettes in combination with in-person counselling are twice as likely to quit compared to those using other nicotine replacement products.
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