ARUA CITY
Authorities in Arua on Monday seized a staggering 662,000 litres of illicitly manufactured alcohol in a major operation targeting unlicensed producers in Ayivu Division.
The enforcement team raided Juas Enterprises Limited, a factory known for producing Tupandene Vodica and various wines, which was operating without appropriate licenses. One worker was arrested and is currently detained at Ayivu West Police Station in Onduparaka.
The City Environmental Health Officer Alfred Amandu, who led the operation, described the seizure as part of a wider effort to combat the growing menace of illegal alcohol production that continues to endanger public health across the city.
“This operation will continue until we have shut down all illegal factories operating in Arua,” Amandu said. “Many of these factories are hidden inside houses, and the conditions are deplorable.”
In a parallel operation, authorities also raided Jack and Donatha Partners, another unlicensed firm dealing in PAL energy drinks and a local brew known as Kakye Busera. Officials confiscated a large quantity of raw materials and semi-processed products, some of which had already begun to rot, attracting larvae, evidence of highly unsanitary production conditions.
“These facilities are not just illegal; they are dangerous,” Amandu warned. “We’re talking about products made in conditions that pose a real threat of poisoning, infection, and other health complications.”
The confiscated alcohol, estimated to be worth approximately UGX 2.64 million, adds to growing evidence of a widespread illegal trade that thrives in residential areas under poor hygiene standards.
This is not the first time illicit alcohol production is reported in Arua. In 2022, the government banned City 5 Gin, a locally distilled spirit linked to at least 14 deaths and numerous hospitalizations in the West Nile region. Some victims reportedly suffered permanent blindness after consuming the toxic brew.
The recent raids are part of an intensified campaign by local health and law enforcement authorities to prevent similar tragedies and shut down illegal operations posing a danger to the public.
Geoffrey Mugomba, the Ayivu Division Town Clerk, urged residents to be vigilant and report any suspected illegal factories operating in their neighborhoods.
“Please verify that all alcohol products carry a valid Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Q mark,” Mugomba said. “Unscrupulous companies have been known to fake approval signs in order to deceive consumers.”
He warned that anyone caught manufacturing or selling unregistered or counterfeit alcohol products would face arrest and prosecution.
A recent joint study titled Understanding the Illicit Alcohol Market in Uganda, published by the Alcohol Industry Association of Uganda and Euromonitor International, shows that illegal alcohol production remains alarmingly high. It increased from 69% in 2020 to 71% in 2024.
According to the report, Ugandans consume an average of 4.6 litres of pure illicit alcohol per year, nearly double the 2.3 litres of regulated alcohol consumed annually.
This disparity underscores the accessibility of unregulated alcohol and the health risks it poses.
Authorities have pledged to maintain pressure on illegal brewers and shut down all unlicensed operations. Amandu emphasized that surveillance and raids will continue, with an emphasis on protecting residents, especially in vulnerable urban neighborhoods.
“The public must be part of this campaign,” he stressed. “Together, we can clean up Arua and ensure only safe, certified products reach the market.”
As efforts intensify, officials are calling on all stakeholders including law enforcement, public health officials, and residents to join hands in dismantling the dangerous networks behind the city’s illegal alcohol industry.
