The government of Uganda MUST stop joking around with killers who use alcohol to poison unsuspecting victims. The matter is a development out of competition where some people have resorted to using poisoning to get users of competitive products off those products where poison is being added intentionally. For so long we have not had this type of developments and for Government to come up and say it is those who pack using sachets is wrong. Leave those using satchets and in fact Government can get a person at each of these packing sites to ensure that the right quantity of chemicals is used. we simply should not look on as some people come with unethical methods to kill others' market. This development has potential of spreading very fast to other foods and the public is going to be very unsafe. Let all possible be done to arrest this development. There is no reason why those who have not been using sachets don't start packing some of their products in sachets if that is the way to make money. Tis is a serious development where Government must be seen to act. You cannot stop the drinking of waragi, all you can is check how this waragi moves to the final consumer, somewhere there are wrong people who want to use Government to see these drinks banned so that they can have market.
William Kituuka
The Monitor (Kampala)
Uganda: Waragi Death Toll Hits 65
Robert Muhereza
19 April 2010
Kabale — Twenty-four more people have died in the past week bringing the number of deaths thought to be caused by contaminated waragi in Kabale District to 65. Over 100 people have been admitted at various health centres and hospitals in the district--although authorities say consumption of the deadly alcohol is still high.
New tricks
Dr Patrick Tusiime, the district health officer, says dealers have resorted to selling the banned crude waragi in beer bottles in a bid to avoid law enforcers, while other people are consuming it behind locked doors. "We have carried out several radio talk shows sensitising the people against the contaminated waragi but most of them have kept a deaf ear," he said.
Most of the crude waragi, Dr Tusiime said, has been contaminated with methanol, although authorities are still waiting for results from the government chemist--on actual levels of concentration.The Kabale Deputy RDC, Mr Shafique Ssekandi, said besides impounding the suspected contaminated crude and sachet waragi, the police should start arresting anybody found drinking the liquor.
Three arrested
Meanwhile, the police have arrested three residents of Bugongi in Kabale Town over allegations that they have been selling contaminated crude alcohol that has claimed lives in the district. The Kabale CID boss, Mr Deo Obong, on Friday confirmed the arrest saying that the operation to crack down on all people suspected to be dealing in the killer crude waragi is still going on.
The Monitor (Kampala)
Uganda: Waragi Death Toll Rises to 80 in Kabale
Uwera Runyambo & Felix Basiime
23 April 2010
Kabale/Kamwenge — Fifteen more people have died of contaminated waragi in Kabale since the weekend, bringing the total deaths to 80, local authorities have said.
The District Health officer, Dr Patrick Tusiime, told Daily Monitor on Wednesday that tests confirm that the poison in the alcohol is methanol.
"Local distillation of alcohol produces a lot of methanol," Dr Tusiime said.
The government has banned production, sale and consumption of crude waragi and spirits in Kabale, beefing up the ban recently slapped on waragi by the Kabale District Alcohol Task Force.
About 120 jerrycans of crude waragi were yesterday recovered from Bukora Parish in Kitumba Sub-county, Kabale where they were hidden.
More deaths
In Kamwenge, the death toll has risen from five to nine according to district officials.
The district chairman, Mr Edward Musingye, said four people died on Wednesday after drinking poisoned waragi.
Mr Musingye said two victims have been admitted at Ntara Health Centre IV in Kamwenge and five others have been taken to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.
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