By Our Reporters
Uganda Management Institute (UMI) has been recognized for its outstanding compliance with laws and regulations the GoU has over the years been legislating on public smoking and tobacco control. The very rigorous process ranking UMI among the top three institutions (that have taken deliberate steps to protect their workers and clients by keeping tobacco out of their premises) was undertaken by an NGO called Uganda Health Communications Alliance (UHCA). Richard Baguma, who is the UHCA National Coordinator says that the vetting team members were impressed with institutional steps that UMI has taken to comply with tobacco or anti-smoking laws which many organizations overlook. He revealed that initially close to 100 institutions had been nominated but the list eventually dropped to 22 and finally to the top 3 including UMI, Next Media (NBS) and CINEMAGIC). Baguma says that the nominated institutions had their compliance assessed on 12 indicators and the top 3 finalists were retained because their compliance was over 90%. The indicators included having in place a mechanism preventing any one from smoking at the organization’s premises, having warning signages with messages discouraging smoking and not permitting any sale of tobacco at the respective business premises. Baguma says many institutions fell short and were eliminated by the vetting team because they could display anti-smoking messages everywhere but at the same time had canteens operating shops where cigarettes can be purchased. He says the likes of UMI have a strict environment that naturally make would-be smokers uncomfortable smoking from there even without any action being taken to prohibit the same. Incorporated more than 10 years ago by a group of seasoned journalists led by Charles Wendo, Gawaya Tegule and Baguma himself, UHCA specializes at ensuring adequate awareness is created about laws and regulations that are aimed at enhancing the quality of health lived by the people of Uganda. In the instant case, many people continue to smoke publicly while exposing the rest of the public to health risk notwithstanding the fact that years ago Parliament enacted a law criminalizing irresponsible smoking in public places. By recognizing institutions with best practices on tobacco control, UHCA helps to increase awareness about such laws while reminding different duty-bearers of their respective obligations. Baguma says that to ensure only the very best took the top 3 positions, they had in place 3 assessment teams that quality-assured the vetting process. There have been efforts to promote compliance to the anti-tobacco legislation (even by KCCA) but the problem of public smokers breaching the rules remains rampant hence the determination by UHCA and other public-spirited entities to keep raising awareness.
UMI GRATEFUL
The UMI’s award of recognition was received by the Institute’s Head of Quality Assurance Dr. Proscovia Sentamu Namubiru who (representing the DG Dr. James Nkata) said the UHCA recognition had prompted them to do even more to grow their compliance to the anti-tobacco relevant laws and regulations. She said the quality of students or participants UMI attracts (being high quality working people) have always contributed to the tobacco-free environment that is prevalent at the Institute. “They always give quality feedback to us in case anything is done by anyone and makes them uncomfortable in which case swift action will have to be taken,” said Dr. Sentamu adding that so high are the levels of self-discipline at UMI that in the 8 years she has worked there, she has never seen anyone smoking and inconveniencing others. She revealed that one of the ways compliance with anti-tobacco laws is going to be improved at UMI is through enactment of anti-smoking policy for the Institute. Dr. Hafsa Lukwata, who represented the Health Ministry, commended UHCA for complimenting government’s efforts to produce a tobacco-free Uganda. She said even if there was no law criminalizing public smoking, the vice should be shunned by everyone because it leads to deadly addictions and cancer which kills many people in Uganda. She said smoking-related cancer is the easiest to prevent and for that to be achieved, initiatives like UHCA’s have to be encouraged to take the awareness message to many more Ugandans.
KARISA’S NBS SHINES
NBS news Manager Joy Bagala, who represented the Next Media, said the UHCA recognition award (which she said took them by surprise) would inspire them to go beyond their modest efforts and invest in more comprehensive actions that will make the environment at their premises safer for staff and visiting clients. The leading TV channel was recognized for its efforts to prominently display anti-smoking messages at their premises among other steps. The gentleman who represented CINEMAGIC said his company was humbled to receive the UHCA recognition award which he said was so genuine as it wasn’t preceded by any solicitation by the eventual winners. As MC, Gwaya Tegule did a fantastic job creating a very lively mood inside the UMI hall that hosted the awards-giving ceremony and thereby keeping everybody elated. And an equally elated Baguma separately told Mulengera news that the UHCA awards would be organized annually to recognize Uganda’s most compliant institutions. He said this is the least UHCA was prepared to do as part of its contribution towards a tobacco-free Uganda. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
