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Civil society organisations under the Uganda Tobacco Taxation Coalition have proposed that government should increase tax on tobacco and related products to 80 percent.

The proposal, if implemented, will mean that tax on such products will almost triple from the current 35.

The proposal comes when the current 35 percent tax on tobacco products is below the World Health Organisation recommended rate of 70 percent.

Speaking during a stakeholder meeting on tobacco taxation, Ms Mable Kukunda, the Uganda National Health Users/Consumers' Organisation senior advocacy and networking officer, said imposing more tax on cigarettes will not only improve government’s revenue but will reduce the negative impact of such products on Ugandans.

“As a coalition, we propose that government increases taxes on both hinge lid and soft cap. Tax on hinge lid should be increased from Shs75,000 to Shs200,000 per 1,000 cigarettes, while tax on soft cap cigarettes should be increased from Shs55,000 to 150,000 per 1,000 cigarettes,” she said.

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