Local leaders in Moroto District are demanding for a total ban on the sale and drinking of waragi, citing its harmful effects.
They emphasize that this unregulated alcohol has led to numerous deaths within the community.
On Thursday evening, joint security forces at the Atari checkpoint intercepted a vehicle transporting crude waragi, allegedly being trafficked into the Karamoja Sub-region from Jinja.
They impounded 72 jerrycans of the locally made gin, which was enroute from Jinja to Karamoja for sale.
The suspect, Solo Juma from Sironko District, was apprehended and is currently detained at a nearby police station.
Despite sustained efforts by security forces, local leaders in Karamoja have voiced deep concerns about the continued influx of waragi into the region.
Josephine Lokongo, a female councilor for Rupa Sub- County, questioned how the gin manages to travel all the way from Jinja to Karamoja despite existing security checkpoints.
Lokongo called upon the security committee to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that allow this illicit waragi business to thrive.
She stressed the importance of community involvement in stopping the consumption of waragi, highlighting that people are still dying from its effects and suffering from malnutrition due to drinking on empty stomachs.
Lokonga also alleged that some security officials might be facilitating the entry of waragi into Karamoja.
Isaac Lokol, the LC3 chairperson of the South Division in Moroto Municipality, appealed to the government to implement laws that will regulate the entry of waragi into the Karamoja Sub- region.
However, Faustina Oyese, the Deputy Commandant of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), emphasized that local chairpersons have a crucial role in helping security forces prevent waragi from entering Karamoja.
Oyese stated that once the gin reaches Karamoja, it quickly spreads to villages, expressing disappointment that leaders complain about waragi-related deaths while also being part of the security apparatus.
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