By Deo Waswa
Anti-Tobacco Health organizations in Uganda are calling upon the government officials that are going to attend international labor organization meeting in Kampala to be bold and request the tobacco companies to stop funding the government.
From 3rd to 5th this month of July, the international labour organization will convene a meeting in Kampala to exchange views on the development and implementation of an integrated strategy to address decent work deficits in the tobacco sector.
While addressing journalists, organization which include, Uganda health communications alliance and Uganda national consumers organization says, the meeting will have meaningless if officials from Uganda government do not boldly tell the tobacco companies to withdraws its funding from the government.
Richard Baguma, the national coordinator of the alliance says, because of the funding these companies give the government is the major reason why they have continued to carry out their operations despite the existence of anti tobacco Act which prohibits some of operations of these companies.
The meeting in Kampala is expected to propose strategies to promote an enabling policy environment for decent work in tobacco growing countries strengthen social dialogue and assist tobacco growing communities to address decent work deficits, including child labor and to transition to alternative livelihoods.