By KT Reporter
Concerned that excessive alcohol consumption during working hours is crippling household productivity, the Minister of Security, Rtd. Maj. Gen. Jim K. Muhwezi, has urged local leaders in Rukungiri District to urgently enact bylaws banning daytime drinking to protect the success of the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Addressing Christians during Christmas Day prayers at Kasoroza Church of Uganda in Nyakagyeme Sub-county, Muhwezi said uncontrolled alcohol consumption has become a major obstacle to government programmes aimed at eradicating poverty at the household level. The minister, who was accompanied by his wife Susan Muhwezi and family members, expressed concern over what he described as worrying levels of alcohol consumption among men, women, youth, and the elderly.
“People are over-drinking during working hours. To my surprise, I also saw women busy drinking. This increasing consumption of alcohol by men, women, youth, and the elderly needs to be regulated through bylaws and strong fines for anyone caught drinking during working hours because the rate of alcohol consumption in our community is worrying,” Muhwezi said.
He noted that while councillors, technical officers, and religious leaders are actively sensitising communities about the Parish Development Model, the challenge of alcohol abuse has not been adequately addressed. “This problem needs urgent attention from every stakeholder because it is making the implementation of government programmes aimed at eradicating poverty at the household level very difficult,” he said, urging leaders to prioritise alcohol-control bylaws.
Muhwezi added that such bylaws should be passed immediately to allow more time for productive work under the PDM and to reduce daytime idleness. “We want the bylaw to be passed quickly in our district, and we shall push it to all local governments across the country,” he added. The minister further urged residents to embrace government programmes intended to uplift households economically.
“The government has introduced many programmes to fight poverty in your homes. Please embrace them and focus on developing your families instead of opposing them. These programmes belong to you,” Muhwezi said. Meanwhile, the Venerable Ronald Natuhwera, the Archdeacon of Nyakagyeme Archdeaconry in North Kigezi Diocese, called on Christians to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and to desist from immoral behaviour.
“Many people, instead of reflecting on the birth of Jesus Christ and kneeling before their Saviour, have engaged in abhorrent acts such as murder, prostitution, adultery, and abuse of alcohol, all of which contradict the teachings of Jesus,” Ven. Natuhwera said. He also urged parents to prioritise education, describing it as a key driver of transformation.“I have seen many children graduating from institutions outside our archdeaconry, yet none from here. We need to ask ourselves what went wrong. Let us educate our children because education is the key to unlocking the world’s problems,” he said.
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