Minister Muhwezi Calls for Bylaws to Ban Daytime Drinking in Rukungiri

The Minister of Security, retired Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi, has called on local leaders in Rukungiri District to urgently enact bylaws banning alcohol consumption during working hours, warning that excessive daytime drinking is undermining household productivity and threatening the success of the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Addressing Christians during 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 other family members, expressed concern over what he described as alarming levels of alcohol abuse 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 local and religious leaders have actively sensitised communities about the Parish Development Model, the issue 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 measures should be implemented immediately to allow residents more time for productive work under the PDM and to curb 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 said.

He further urged residents to embrace government programmes designed to improve household incomes and lift families out of poverty.

Meanwhile, the Archdeacon of Nyakagyeme Archdeaconry in North Kigezi Diocese, the Venerable Ronald Natuhwera, called on Christians to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and to refrain from immoral behaviour.

“Many people, instead of reflecting on the birth of Jesus Christ and kneeling before their Saviour, have engaged in acts such as murder, prostitution, adultery and abuse of alcohol, which contradict the teachings of Jesus,” Ven Natuhwera said.

He also urged parents to prioritise education, describing it as a key driver of social and economic transformation.

“I have seen many children graduating from institutions outside our archdeaconry, yet none are 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.