ZOMBO DISTRICT, UGANDA: The National Drug Authority (NDA) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Alur Kingdom to combat the escalating crisis of drug and substance abuse among young people across the kingdom’s 56 chiefdoms.
The collaboration marks a significant multi-sectoral response to Uganda’s growing substance abuse burden, particularly in border and urban communities where youth remain highly vulnerable.
The partnership was formalised during a high-level engagement held on March 17, 2026, at Kaal Atyak Winam in Zombo District, attended by NDA Public Relations Officer Fred Kalungi Kabuye, Alur Kingdom Prime Minister (Jadipu) Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, and members of the Atyak Royal Council.
Kabuye said the NDA is prioritising preventive interventions to safeguard public health, especially among young populations increasingly exposed to substance misuse.
“Our aim is to see that we have a healthy population which can do their work and develop at the end of the day,” he stated.
A 2024 report by the Uganda National Institute of Public Health indicates that alcohol and drug use contribute up to 14 percent of the total disease burden among adolescents, affecting cognitive development, academic performance, and mental health outcomes.
Kabuye warned that unemployed and idle youth are at heightened risk, particularly in border districts where porous frontiers ease access to illicit substances.
Commonly abused substances in the Alur Kingdom include aviation fuel locally known as “Thina,” cannabis, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Local leaders report a surge in mental health disorders linked to substance misuse, especially in urban and peri-urban centres such as Paidha Town Council, Parombu, Panyimur, and Nebbi Municipality. The trend has been associated with rising insecurity, reduced productivity, and family instability.
As part of the intervention strategy, NDA will sponsor annual football tournaments organised by the Alur Kingdom. The initiative will provide playing kits, balls, trophies, and officiating allowances, while serving as a platform for community sensitisation on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
Prime Minister Angala welcomed the partnership, describing substance abuse as a complex public health issue with far-reaching social and economic implications.
He said the kingdom will leverage its cultural governance structures, including chiefs, clan heads, religious leaders, and local governments, to strengthen grassroots awareness and prevention campaigns.
The collaboration will also promote regulated herbal medicine practices through the kingdom’s health structures and explore mentorship programmes for young girls in partnership with initiatives such as the Nnabagereka Development Foundation. These efforts aim to reinforce cultural values like Obuntubulamu while addressing challenges including teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and gender-based violence.
The Prime Minister conveyed appreciation from the Alur King, His Majesty Phillip Olarker Rauni III, noting that the partnership aligns with the kingdom’s broader health agenda, including ongoing HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.
Uganda continues to face mounting substance abuse challenges. According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2024, the country registered 2,240 narcotics-related cases, reflecting a 6 percent increase from 2023. Of these, 1,496 cases were prosecuted.
World Health Organization estimates further show that Uganda’s per capita alcohol consumption stands at approximately 12.2 litres annually among adults, with alcohol use disorder affecting about 10 percent of the population and contributing to roughly 6.5 percent of deaths.
Health experts warn that both illicit drug use and harmful alcohol consumption remain major public health threats requiring sustained intervention.
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