KAMPALA – The Uganda Management Institute (UMI) has been recognised for its deliberate efforts in creating an environment free from tobacco smoke at a colourful function held Thursday, March 28 in Kampala.
This was after extensive research done by the Uganda Health Communication Alliance (UHCA), a non-profit organisation that advocates for a tobacco-free world and seeks to improve the quality and quantity of information about health that is available to the public.
Mr. Richard Baguma, the UHCA coordinator, said: “The awards were conducted to recognise those people and institutions that have taken the necessary steps to promote the health of their workers, clients and businesses by keeping away any tobacco use from their premises and informing the people that tobacco is a dangerous thing.”
He further said: “This was compiled with the provision of the tobacco law and very happy that they have done that as good corporate citizens and we have decided to publicly recognise them as well as thanking them for complying.”
Speaking about the award on Thursday, March 28, in Kampala, Dr. Namubiru Ssentamu, the head of quality assurance at UMI, said: “On behalf of the UMI fraternity I accept this award. We pledge to the ministry of Health and other stakeholders concerned with tobacco control in Uganda that we shall continue to do our best to comply.”
She continued: “The next time you come back it will be more than 100 per cent (compliance). I know we don’t have enough signage for no smoke material but it’s a wakeup call up to do more and even to cascade and institutionalise the Tobacco Control Act as well sensitising participants, staff and visitors about the dangers of tobacco consumption.”
The other winners of the awards were NBS TV and Cinema Magic from a pool of more than 22 nominated organisations in sample districts of Kampala and Wakiso.
