Reports Leo Odera Omolo

THREE million Ugandans consume alcohol excessively, according to a rehabilitation organisation.

The agency, Serenity Centre for Alcoholics Rehabilitation, added that about 15% of the 31 million Ugandans are vulnerable to alcohol.

The managing director, David Kalema, said the number was based on their own studies and those by the World Health Organisation.

Henry Musitwa, an educator at the centre, explained that an alcohol addict is a person who cannot do without taking alcohol.

“It is not about how much a person takes, but such a person depends on alcohol. It might be one bottle of beer a day, but he cannot do without it,” Musitwa told The New Vision.

The person’s health also becomes compromised by alcohol. One such symptom is uncontrollable shaking of hands.

Kalema made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving a donation of 80 mattresses from Euroflex to assist the centre.

He noted that excessive consumption of alcohol had driven people into poverty and unemployment.

In Uganda, Kalema said, the situation is aggravated by crude waragi and other local brews whose alcoholic content is unknown.

“Central Uganda has the highest number of alcoholics, followed by western. The north and east have the least number,” Kalema said.

He noted that men are more addicted than women, particularly men with responsibilities.

Kalema attributed this to stress caused by the burden to provide for their families.

Kalema said excessive drinking is linked to the increased number of motor accidents, HIV/AIDS spread, indiscipline in schools and family break-ups.

Kalema said some children begin drinking as early as eight years.
The magnitude of alcohol addiction may be bigger than studies show since the country still has a big volume of unrecorded alcohol supply and sales, he noted.

Quoting the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Kalema said unregulated waragi accounts for about 80% of the liquor produced in the country, and provides income to many people.

Kalema revealed that one cause of alcoholism is based on the family background.

“Six out of 10 patients brought to this centre have an alcoholic trend in their lineage. You find parents and relatives of the patient were all alcoholics,” Kalema said.

The good news, he said, is that such people can be rehabilitated.

“A total of 60% of the patients recover and quit drinking to start a new life, while 40% relapse. We monitor them for one year to see the progress,” he said.
Other factors contributing to alcoholism include culture, peer pressure and political instabilities.

Kalema urged the Government to fight poverty in order to stop more people from becoming alcoholics.

“Very poor people and low-income earners drink more than the well-off people. Some men cannot provide for their families and thus get stress. They resort to drinking,” he said.

Kalema advised that people should closely monitor relatives and children to ensure they do not become alcoholics.
“It is easy. When people start coming home late or dodge you when you talk to them, then suspect,” he said.

Euroflex provided about sh12m worth of aid to the centre located in Bwebajja in Wakiso district. The centre can admit 25 patients. It is supported by a foreign firm, Measan Cara of Ireland and the Irish Embassy.The center was started in 2001.

Ends