The Minister of Local Government , Balaam Barugahara has issued new tough directives requiring among others bars to open after 3pm on working days and enforce laws and regulations governing betting houses across the country .
Barugahara in a statement ordered for the closure of alcohol outlets that repeatedly defy lawful operating-hour directives. He said that betting companies should not admit children below the allowed legal age of 25 .
It is an offence under the Gambling Act, 2018 to permit a minor ( a person under the age of 25) to play or take part in any gambling activity, including the buying or selling of lottery tickets.
The measure is subject to applicable national laws, licensing requirements and lawful local government regulations.
The ministry has tasked LC5 chairpersons, city mayors, division mayors and council speakers with taking personal leadership in enforcing the directive in their respective jurisdictions.
Local leaders have also been directed to work with security agencies and enforcement teams to discourage early-morning alcohol consumption, which the ministry says contributes to idleness, family problems and rising crime in communities.
The directive further orders authorities to ensure that bar owners, shopkeepers and operators of Malwa joints who sell or supply alcohol to persons below 18 years are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Establishments found repeatedly violating the requirement should face appropriate sanctions, the minister said.
The ministry has also directed local governments to regulate the operating hours of betting companies in their jurisdictions in accordance with existing laws and regulations, with the aim of protecting communities, particularly young people, from harmful practices associated with excessive betting.
In a separate measure aimed at strengthening accountability, all local councils have been ordered to allow journalists access to council sittings.
Mr Ateenyi said media access would enable citizens to follow council debates, decisions and the conduct of public business, similar to proceedings in Parliament.
Local governments have also been directed to display approved budgets on main council notice boards and other accessible public notice boards.
The ministry said the measure would enable residents to know what has been budgeted for their areas and monitor the implementation of projects and services, promoting people-led audits and accountability.
Joint security teams, council enforcement officers and other relevant authorities will support local governments in implementing the directives.
Minister Barugahara urged local government leaders to prioritise the interests of citizens, protect children, encourage productivity and promote discipline in communities.
All LC5 Chairpersons, City Mayors, Division Mayors and Council Speakers are hereby directed to implement the following measures with immediate effect:
1. ALLOW PRESS ACCESS TO ALL COUNCIL SITTINGS
All councils should allow members of the press access to council sittings, just as Parliament allows media access to its proceedings. This is intended to promote transparency, accountability and public awareness, enabling citizens to follow debates, decisions and the conduct of public business in their respective local governments.
2. DISPLAY APPROVED BUDGETS ON THE MAIN COUNCIL NOTICE BOARD
All local governments shall display their approved budgets on the main council notice board and other accessible public notice boards. This will enable members of the public to know what has been budgeted for their respective areas and follow up on the implementation of projects and services, thereby promoting people-led audits, transparency and accountability.
3. PROTECT PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS FROM ALCOHOL
Bar owners, shop owners and operators of Malwa joints or other alcohol-selling establishments who sell or supply alcohol to persons under 18 years of age 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.
4. STOP EARLY-MORNING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Local leaders should 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.
5. BARS AND MALWA JOINTS SHOULD OPEN AFTER 3:00 P.M. ON WORKING DAYS
Bars, Malwa joints and other alcohol-selling establishments should not open before 3:00 p.m. on working days, subject to applicable national laws, licensing requirements and lawful local government regulations.
6. ENFORCE LAWFUL OPERATING-HOUR DIRECTIVES
Bars and alcohol outlets that repeatedly defy lawful operating-hour directives should be closed, and appropriate enforcement action should be taken against persistent offenders in accordance with the law.
7. REGULATE BETTING OPERATING HOURS
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.
IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Joint security teams, council enforcement officers and other relevant authorities shall support local governments in the implementation and enforcement of these directives.
All responsible local government leaders are expected to take personal leadership in ensuring compliance & reporting challenges in implementation through the appropriate channels.
Let us put the interests of our people first, promote transparency & accountability in local government, protect our children, encourage productivity and restore discipline in our communities.
