By Admin
NATIONAL:The government of Uganda on Tuesday August 11, 2026, set 3:00 p.m as official opening time for bars, malwa (local brew) drinking joints and other alcohol outlets across the country, a move which aims to protect children, encourage productivity and restore discipline in communities.
In his letter addressed to all district chairpersons, city mayors, and council speakers, Balaam Barugahara Atenyi, the Minister of Local Government, said that bars, malwa joints and other alcohol-selling establishments should not open before3:00pm on working days, subject to applicable national laws, licensing requirements and lawful local government regulations.
He directed that bar owners, shop owners and operators of malwa joints or other alcohol-selling establishments who sell or supply alcohol to persons under 18 years should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
”Local authorities and security agencies should strictly enforce this requirement, and establishments found repeatedly violating the law should face appropriate sanctions,” he ordered.
Barugahara also directed leaders to take the lead in discouraging early-morning alcohol consumption and work with security agencies and enforcement teams to ensure that bars and alcohol outlets do not operate in a manner that encourages people to spend their mornings drinking instead of working.
”This is intended to address idleness, family problems and rising crime associated with excessive alcohol consumption in communities, while promoting a productive and responsible population,” the minister said.
The Minister further directed the leaders and security operatives that to arrest bar owners, shop owners and operators of malwa joints or other alcohol-selling establishments who sell or supply alcohol to persons under 18 years and prosecute in accordance with the law
”Local authorities and security agencies should strictly enforce this requirement, and establishments found repeatedly violating the law should face appropriate sanctions,” he ordered.
Under the new decree, the Ministry advised leaders to take the lead in discouraging early-morning alcohol consumption and work with security agencies and enforcement teams to ensure that bars and alcohol outlets do not operate in a manner that encourages people to spend their mornings drinking instead of working.
”This is intended to address idleness, family problems and rising crime associated with excessive alcohol consumption in communities, while promoting a productive and responsible population,” the minister said.
The minister further directed that local governments should regulate the operating hours of betting companies within their respective jurisdictions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, with the aim of protecting communities, particularly young people, from harmful practices associated with excessive betting.
Joint security teams, council enforcement officers and other relevant authorities were also directed to support local governments in the implementation and enforcement of these directives.
Budgets to be displayed publicly
The minister has further ordered local governments to display their approved budgets on main council notice boards and other accessible public notice boards. The intention is to allow ordinary citizens to know what has been budgeted for their communities and follow up on the implementation of projects and services.
The directive effectively encourages communities to become watchdogs over public expenditure.
Citizens could use publicly displayed budgets to monitor whether money allocated to a road, school, health centre, market or other project is actually reflected in work taking place on the ground.
Mr Barugahara described the approach as promoting “people-led audits”, suggesting that citizens should not wait for government agencies alone to detect misuse of public resources.
The minister’s transparency agenda has received considerable support online. Alex J Muhangi thanked the minister, saying the measures were long overdue.
He particularly welcomed the call for media access to council meetings and the public display of budgets and contracts.
Muhangi also criticised the practice of bars opening early in the morning, arguing that the new approach could help change what he described as a culture of excessive drinking.
Betting companies also targeted
The minister has also ordered local governments to regulate the operating hours of betting companies in their respective jurisdictions.
The directive says regulation should be carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, with the stated objective of protecting communities, particularly young people, from harmful practices associated with excessive betting.
The move reflects growing concern about the visibility of betting shops and the participation of young people in gambling activities.
