The Uganda Health Communications Alliance has expressed concern over the high rate at which tobacco smoking us increasing especially among the young people.

The Acing Executive Director of National Association of Community and Occupational health Dr Kahero Ssekimpi says in most places of the country, 10% of the young smoke and in the west Nile, a third of the population does.

One of Uganda's Cigarrette brand

He also says that among the Bakonzo, it is worse as parents at times offer their babies cigarettes as immediate solutions when the latter cry.

The current law prohibits smoking from public places but poses a challenge among families where children and pregnant mothers and the unborn children suffer the dangerous effects of Tobacco smoking.

Research indicates that a majority percentage of over 75 oral cancer patients and other tobacco related diseases have a history of smoking.

Gilbert Muyambi the secretary general for Uganda National Tobacco control Association has called on the Government to support the draft Tobacco control bill which is yet to be tabled in Parliament to save the health of many Ugandans.

By Isaac Senabulya, Ultimate Media