UGANDA. The Ugandan government is set to consider a Tobacco Control Bill which calls for the prohibition of duty free tobacco sales. The bill, originally drafted in 2010 under the auspices of the Uganda National Tobacco Control Association, calls for the prohibition of the “sale and importation of duty free tobacco products”.
According to industry lobbyists the bill follows the full recommendations of the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which eventually stopped short of including mandatory restrictions on duty free tobacco sales but suggested that countries could consider their own restrictions.
The duty free clause is one of many aimed at increasing taxation on tobacco products. The relevant clause states that full duties and taxes will be collected on all tobacco products, and that “duty free and duty reduced sales of any tobacco products shall be prohibited”.
The bill – proposed by a private member – is currently under public consultation and is expected to be put to Parliament in September. According to local reports the bill’s proposers are aiming for it to be passed into law by the end of the year.
Duty free retail at the country’s main international gateway Entebbe Airport is operated by Uganda Duty Free Sales.
