“Ugandan coalition formed to tackle the hidden crisis of illicit alcohol”
The Independent reports:
“It is in the face of this growing national crisis that Uganda’s leading institutions and voices from government bodies, civil society organisations, faith-based groups, youth networks, academia, media, and the private sector have come together and united to form a multisectoral platform – the Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol, Uganda Chapter (CAIA-Uganda). The Coalition aims to coordinate action, raise public awareness, and strengthen policy to protect Ugandans from the devastating health and social consequences of illicit alcohol, specifically spirits.
“Uganda now joins its neighbour Zambia, where a similar coalition launched two years ago has mobilized government, retailers, and communities to build a national movement against harmful alcohol consumption. Inspired by its success, the Uganda coalition will operate as a neutral, evidence-based platform grounded in collaboration and shared accountability.”
“Next Media Joins Founding Members of the Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol”
Nile Post reports:
“This coalition marks a significant step toward addressing one of Uganda’s silent yet deadly challenges, which is the widespread consumption and sale of unregulated, unbranded alcohol. It brings together Reach A Hand Uganda, Brands on a Mission, The Uganda Alcohol Manufacturers Association, Next Media, and The Anti-Counterfeit Network, with the shared belief that protecting lives and livelihoods requires a united front. …
“As Next Media, our role goes beyond reporting. We are committed to using the power of media to educate, inform, and mobilize the public. Through our platforms, we will amplify conversations, share stories of impact, and ensure millions of Ugandans understand the dangers of illicit alcohol. We believe that information is the first step to transformation.”
Other articles on the same topic
- “Opinion: It is Time for a Decisive Crackdown on Illicit Trade in Uganda” (SoftPower News)
- “Why Uganda must confront illicit alcohol crisis” (The Monitor)
Assessment
CAIA–Uganda is a strategically constructed, alcohol industry-linked platform – not an independent public health coalition. Among its founding members is an organisation referred to in media reporting as the Uganda Alcohol Manufacturers Association – likely the Uganda Alcohol Industry Association (UAIA), the main trade body representing global alcohol industry giants, such as Diageo and AB InBev. By recruiting influential partners such as Next Media, faith-based groups, and youth organisations, the alcohol industry has effectively embedded itself in a coalition that projects credibility while advancing narratives that align with its commercial interests and distract from Uganda’s real alcohol harm caused by the products and practices of alcohol companies.
The coalition’s relaunch in October, following its original unveiling in May 2025, came amid renewed international attention to methanol poisonings – most visibly in Brazil and reflected in many news outlets reporting (much more than on other alcohol harms, such as violence, cancer, road traffic fatalities, etc.) as well as in the UK Foreign Office’s expanded travel warnings that included Uganda. This context suggests a coordinated effort to amplify the illicit alcohol narrative, portraying the industry as a partner in public protection while diverting attention from the broader harms of commercial alcohol and from proven measures such as evidence-based and public health oriented alcohol taxation as well as alcohol availability and marketing limitations. The coalition’s emphasis on “responsible consumption,” “safe products,” and “partnership with manufacturers” mirrors global industry messaging designed to appear cooperative while ultimately undermining effective, health-oriented policy initiatives.
This framing is not new. The alcohol industry in Uganda has previously used the same narrative around “illicit” and “unsafe” alcohol to derail legislation that would prevent and reduce alcohol harm. In 2024, alcohol producers successfully mobilised against the Alcohol Control Bill, portraying it as “ineffective” against illicit alcohol and harmful to business, leading Parliament to drop the proposal entirely. This mirrors tactics seen globally, from Kenya and South Africa to Mexico and Brazil. The reappearance of this framing in the newly relaunched Ugandan coalition suggests a deliberate continuation of this global playbook aimed at derailing or delaying life-saving alcohol policy.
For advocates, the priority is to expose the alcohol industry’s role in shaping this coalition and to challenge the false narrative that frames illicit alcohol as the main threat while deflecting responsibility from commercial products. Another priority is to engage faith-based and youth groups to illustrate the conflict of interest at the core of this industry venture to encourage them to distance themselves from the alcohol industry.
Documenting these links and publicly communicating the risks of and conflicts of interest inherent in industry-driven policy agendas will be essential to protecting the integrity of alcohol policy development in Uganda and ensuring that prevention and reduction of alcohol harm remain in the hands of independent public health leadership.