Tobacco use in Uganda remains dangerously high despite the Tobacco Control Act 2015. The law aims to reduce tobacco consumption, but numbers show little change. The Ministry of Health reported that in 2024, 8% of Ugandans aged 18 to 69, about 1.8 million people, used tobacco. This misses the government target of reducing usage to 6% by 2024. Tobacco use leads to high health costs and economic losses. The law was approved by President Museveni on September 19, 2015. It was meant to reduce demand and control tobacco products.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2022 that tobacco kills 204 Ugandans weekly. The direct costs of tobacco illnesses in Uganda reach $41.5 million (UGX 150 billion) yearly. This accounts for 2.3% of Uganda’s national health spending, according to a 2017 study by the American Cancer Society and local researchers.
Despite the law, enforcement faces major challenges. Dr. Aggrey Ngobi Byansi, Chair of the National Tobacco Control Committee, said the tobacco industry still promotes tobacco products heavily. Children and adults remain addicted. The committee fights this but struggles.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, said enforcement officers face bribery. The tobacco industry is wealthy and offers money to weaken law enforcement. “We live in hard economic times,” she said. “A few shillings can tempt people.” She warned that accepting bribes means ignoring the deaths of 4,807 Ugandans yearly from tobacco.
The National Tobacco Control Committee coordinates the law’s implementation. It includes members from several government departments. However, civil society critic Moses Talibita said the government has not enforced the law strongly. He has worked on tobacco control since 2013 and helped draft the 2015 law and 2019 regulations. He says enforcement must improve.
Talibita stressed that Uganda must follow Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This article urges governments to tax tobacco products higher. Doing so lowers demand and raises funds to fight tobacco harms. In 2025, Uganda raised cigarette taxes slightly, but Talibita said this is not enough.
Some people support tobacco due to its revenue. Dr. Ngobi said the risks far outweigh the benefits. The tobacco industry criticized the tax hike. British American Tobacco-Uganda (BAT) told Parliament that higher taxes would hurt sales and reduce government income. Health experts disagree strongly.
Tobacco use has fluctuated since 2019. The lowest use was in 2021 during COVID-19 lockdowns when public spaces closed. Still, tobacco use remains a big problem. The STEPwise national survey showed tobacco use dropped from 9.6% in 2014 to 8.3% in 2024. Among males, it fell from 16.8% to 15%, and among females from 2.9% to 2.4%.
Dr. Ngobi said reducing tobacco demand and supply remains a priority. Tobacco products appear in many places, including bars where shishas are smoked. Nicotine products are also found in schools.
Tobacco use increases many cancer risks. The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) now sees around 7,000 new cancer patients yearly. A decade ago, this number was 4,000. The rise comes from lifestyle factors like smoking, poor diet, and inactivity.
To fight tobacco, the government plans stronger enforcement. Dr. Ngobi said they will arrest anyone caught smoking illegally in restricted places. They will also boost public awareness and increase tobacco taxes.
Despite the strict Tobacco Control Act 2015, tobacco use in Uganda remains a serious health threat. Corruption, weak enforcement, and industry lobbying slow progress. However, stronger laws and united efforts can help reduce tobacco harms in the future.
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