Audio By Carbonatix
Tough new laws on smoking and tobacco sales have come into force in Uganda.
People lighting up in bars, restaurants or hotels now face being fined $60 (£41) or jailed for up to two months.
And smokers must be at least 50 metres away from public spaces, such as schools, hospitals and taxi ranks.
The new laws also ban the sale of electronic cigarettes and flavoured tobacco for water pipes or shishas, which have become popular in clubs of the capital, Kampala.
In further anti-smoking measures, the government has banned the sale of single cigarettes and tightened rules on labelling, advertising and selling tobacco to under-21s.
Buying single cigarettes has previously been popular among less well-off smokers.
Enforcement?
The government has said it does not anticipate jailing many people for breaking the new laws and that its mission is to prevent people smoking in the first place.
The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says it is unclear how rigidly police will enforce the legislation, given the number of other crimes they have to deal with.
Our correspondent says smoking is not common in Uganda but the authorities have been concerned by the rise of health problems linked to tobacco use such as cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure.
The laws included in the Tobacco Control Act build on a ministerial directive from 2004, which restricted smoking in public.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana declares war on illegal streaming of pay-TV content
14 seconds -
Vice President leads 44th anniversary commemoration of 31st December Revolution
1 minute -
Valencia coach Fernando Martin dies in Indonesia boat accident
18 minutes -
Nigeria AG’s intervention brings relief to River Park estate investors – JonahCapital
30 minutes -
High number of youth behind bars is a national loss – Ashanti regional prisons commander
47 minutes -
Nhyira Aboodoo shifts to monumental projects, injects GH₵270,000 into Ashanti orphanages
52 minutes -
Police restores calm after swoop operation at AbosoÂ
1 hour -
Through thick and thin in 2025: KGL Group makes national, global impact
1 hour -
Clean Air Fund sets 2026 targets, pushing gov’t toward funding, tougher laws and real health gains on air pollution
2 hours -
New Year begins with 15.92% water and 9.86% electricity tariff hikes
2 hours -
TUC, PURC call for calm amid power tariff concerns, assure public of stakeholder engagement
2 hours -
New VAT is a game changer for Ghana’s revenue collection – GRA Boss
2 hours -
Adom FM’s Strictly Highlife comes off today at Palms Convention Centre
3 hours -
Relive the 90s: Joy FM’s 90’s Jam takes over this Friday
3 hours -
Relieve Ato Forson of Defence role to protect fiscal discipline – Franklin Cudjoe to Mahama
3 hours
