KCCA to revoke licenses of bars that admit children

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA will terminate the licenses for bars, discos, video and film halls that admit children.

This is contained in a draft ordinance titled Kampala Capital City (Prohibition and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence) Ordinance, 2021.

The draft provides for the prohibition and prevention of and response to gender-based violence and other related matters in Kampala.

According to the draft, bar, disco, video or film hall operators are banned from allowing individuals under 18 years from accessing their premises. Those that defy the ordinance will on the first occasion pay a fine not exceeding shillings 20,000 and on the second occasion will lose an operating license and pay a fine not exceeding shillings 40,000.

The ordinance was the main focus during a meeting between Uganda Human Rights Commission-UHRC and Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA held on Monday in Entebbe municipality.

Some of the councillors led by Mosh Afrikan, the chairperson of KCCA Council committee on gender and Hellen Namukyaya, the representative for Makindye East, however, noted that the proposed fines are very low.

Harriet Ityang, the Commissioner First Parliamentary Counsel, says councillors should prescribe penalties as guided in the Kampala Capital City Act, 2014 as amended.

Doreen Nyanjura, the Deputy Lord Mayor says the executive will present the Bill to the KCCA Council by October so that it is processed by the council and passed by next year.

Meddie Mulumba, the acting Chairperson UHRC noted that the commission is engaging technical and political leaders in Kampala, Tororo, Arua, Kyegegwa, Amudat, Kasese and Kitgum to develop ordinances on eliminating violence against women and girls.

Mulumba says developing the ordinances is being implemented under the Spot Light Initiative Project, which is being funded by the European Union and UNDP.

Mulumba says the seven districts were selected because they have been recording a high number of cases of GBV in Uganda.

The Police Annual Crime Report for 2020 indicated that 17,664 GBV cases were reported in 2020, compared to 13,603 cases in 2019.

According to Mulumba, UHRC has started discussions with KCCA leaders on the need to pass the ordinance to help in prevention and also curb the vice.

He asked leaders to sensitize communities to curb GBV.

Nina Kitui, the Chairperson Gender Committee at Central Division Council says the ordinance will help victims on where to report and how they can get help.

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