Police in Arua impounds 74 cartons of City 5 gin

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The police in Arua city has impounded 74 cartons of City 5 gin, a local pineapple-flavored potent gin. The operations follow reports that the gin is still being kept and consumed secretly, despite the recent incidences of deaths and a ban on its consumption and sale.

During an operation on Wednesday, police recovered 74 cartons each containing 24 bottles at a shop in Oluodri trading center, Ayivu division, Arua city.

The West Nile police spokesperson Josephine Angucia says during the operation, one suspect whose identity has been withheld for security reasons was arrested.

She says the operations will continue until more stocks of City 5 gin which are being secretly kept in people’s homes are recovered.

Swaib Toko, the Madi Okollo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) has cautioned those who still have stocks of the potent waragi to desist from repacking it for sales.

Last month, 17 people in Madi Okollo, Arua districts and Arua city lost their lives after consuming the gin. According to the UNBS laboratory analysis results, the gin was excessively adulterated with methanol far higher than the permissible level of 50 milligrams per liter.

So far, three suspects have been charged with nine counts of manslaughter, manufacturing, selling, distribution, and possession of products not conforming to the standard specification under the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Act following the deaths caused by City 5 gin.

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