By Joseph Logola and Stanly Ebele
The Bishops in North Karamoja have condemned high level of alcohol consumption among the Christians.
Rt. Rev. Bishop Dominic Eibu of Kotido Catholic Diocese and Rt. Rev. Bishop Simon Aisu Akol of North Karamoja Diocese separately spoke against the excessive alcohol consumption in their Easter messages.
Rt. Rev. Bishop Simon Aisu Akol of North Karamoja Diocese observed that the majority of people in Karamoja sub-region are engaged in excessive alcohol consumption.
He said that high level of alcohol consumption among communities has caused societal issues such as heightened poverty, depression, crime and other related vices.
“The issue of binge drinking of alcohol among the young and old people in Karamoja sub-region is worrying”, bishop Aisu stated.
In his Easter Message, Rt. Rev. Bishop Dominic Eibu of Kotido Catholic Diocese condemned the practice of people celebrating Easter by indulging in alcohol in bars instead of worshipping the Lord.
He emphasized the negative impact of widespread alcohol consumption on both productivity and family well-being, describing the situation as absurd.
The bishop reminded the Christians to rebuke any pressure that lure them into celebrating important monuments by drinking alcohol in bars.
“Christians you should adopt to a lifestyle that goes beyond the pitfalls of excessive alcohol consumption”, Bishop Eibu said, advocating for a collective effort to break free from the chains of this vice”.
Although the Karamoja local governments and the Executive Orders barred entry of crude waragi into the region, the illicit gene still finds its way to the region through various porous routes.
A report by the Karamoja Peace and Environmental Protection Service indicates that 498 people have died due to alcohol related causes and starvation in Kotido district in the recent years.
Another report from the Uganda Health Management Information System (HMIS) indicates that about 10,875 people were reported to have suffered from depression in 2024 from the Sub-counties of Napumpum, Longaroe, Kamor, Maaru, Rengen, and Kotido West Division.
While other regions consume alcohol for pleasure and other reasons, in Karamoja, local brews like Ebutia in Kotido and Kwete in Moroto, Napak, and Nakapiripirit are taken as food by the local communities with some people depend on the local brew for days without eating any solid food.
