For many people across the globe, alcohol is used to unwind after a stressful week or to enjoy social events. Others use alcohol to cope with hardship and can develop addictions that impact their day-to-day lives. According to a 2023 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda has the highest rate of alcohol consumption per capita in Africa at 12.2 liters of alcohol per year. Alcohol abuse in Uganda is closely correlated to poverty, as people spend much of their income on alcohol and are also subject to higher health care costs and fewer employment opportunities. Those affected can also enter a debt spiral to maintain their habit, and their children can miss out on education.

The severe nature of alcohol abuse in Uganda highlights the need for measures that aim to reduce harm and prevent more people from becoming addicted to alcohol. Many organizations recognize this and are actively helping those in need.

Uganda Youth Development Link

Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL) was founded in 1993 to lift Ugandan youth out of poverty and build life skills. It focuses on addressing several issues faced by vulnerable young people, such as child trafficking, HIV prevention and alcohol and substance abuse.

UYDEL is one of the leading organizations addressing alcohol abuse in Uganda, with efforts focusing on lobbying for stricter alcohol regulations. Key areas UYDEL lobbies for include banning plastic sachets of alcohol, restricting advertisements for alcohol, limiting alcohol sale hours and preventing the sale of alcohol to minors. Additionally, UYDEL also organizes community outreaches, film screenings and seminars to prevent alcohol abuse.

Hands For Hope

Hands for Hope began in 2008 after its founder, Joe Cummiskey, relocated to Uganda from the U.K. to help vulnerable children. The organization aims to alleviate extreme poverty for children living in Uganda’s most deprived areas through health and social care and education.

Parental alcohol abuse has caused extreme hardship for some of the 350 children Hands for Hope works with. 16-year-old Jane and her siblings were raised by a single mother who abused alcohol to cope with the stress of living in a slum. During their childhood, their mother would regularly physically use them when drunk. Cases similar to this highlight how severe alcohol abuse in Uganda is and how it impacts entire families.

Hands for Hope tried to support Jane’s mother through her alcohol abuse by enrolling her in Alcoholics Anonymous. While this did work for a time, ultimately, it was unsuccessful. However, Hands for Hope arranged places for the children at a boarding school, allowing them to access education in a safe and stable environment. Without this intervention, the children would still be suffering from their mother’s alcohol abuse and would have a much lower quality of life.

Hope and Beyond

Hope and Beyond is “Uganda’s leading treatment center for alcohol and substance abuse disorders.” Those suffering from alcohol abuse in Uganda are taken through detoxification, allowing the body time to remove alcohol and other toxins to start the recovery process. Due to the relationship between alcohol abuse and other illnesses such as schizophrenia or depression, Hope and Beyond also offer comprehensive care to allow for a complete recovery. Vocational skills training and guidance are also provided, allowing those affected to feel supported and build a career to sustain themselves after recovery.

Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance

Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA) is a collection of organizations coming together to fight for a more effective alcohol policy in Uganda. By advocating for stronger legislation based on evidence, UAPA aims to reduce the negative impact of alcohol abuse in Uganda. Uganda’s alcohol legislation also receives support through technical expertise and resources provided by UAPA and encouragement to enact efficient regulations to protect citizens’ health. While UAPA’s efforts may not have a direct impact on people’s lives in the way some other organizations would, alcohol can be linked to many diseases, such as cancer and liver disease. By promoting a stronger alcohol policy, many Ugandans will also see an improvement in their health.

The World Health Organization

Efforts to address alcohol abuse in Uganda don’t stop on a local scale. In 2018, the WHO launched its SAFER initiative to help Uganda regulate alcohol consumption. With Uganda’s per capita alcohol consumption of 12.2 liters nearly double the global average of 6.18 liters, the strain placed on health and economic factors is evident.

The SAFER initiative supports Uganda’s Ministry of Health to enforce strict alcohol legislation, tackle drunk driving and implement treatment programs across the country. Uganda’s own attempts to curb alcohol abuse such as the 2022 Alcohol Control Bill and restrictions on selling alcohol to under-18s are strengthened by the WHO through a widespread campaign and monitoring system. The WHO has also been present at policy briefings regarding alcohol abuse in Uganda, in addition to creating a risk factor survey in 2013 and in 2023, as well as improving Ugandans’ access to treatment for alcohol-related health issues.

A Look Ahead

Pressure caused by extreme poverty has been a significant factor contributing to alcohol abuse in Uganda over the years. Many turn to alcohol as an escape from the suffering of their daily lives, but this only leads to poor economic outcomes and health issues and can cause suffering for whole families. With the support offered by organizations like these, Ugandans can benefit from direct intervention and broader campaigns to heighten awareness of the dangers of alcohol and prevent even more people from taking the path of alcohol abuse.

–Jamie Paterson

Photo: Flickr