Man sues Mukamanayamba, Karaso and Kayibanda plus various radios for deceptive messages
By Jeremiah Kaniampiha
Peter Bushaijabwengwe, 46, has given notice of intention to sue the so called health drinks that include Mukamanayamba, Karaso and others plus various FM radios, which disseminate deceptive information to the public with intention to defraud.
The Drone Media has also learnt that radio comedian known as Kayimbanda, who has perfected the art of this deception and mastered the trade, will be among the respondents (sued parties).
According to Bushaijabwengwe, The National Drugs Authority (NDA), UCC and UNBS have been silent on this growing number od advertisement of products claiming nutritional and therapeutic value on TV, radio and social media as deceptive soft drinks Ads.
Bushaijabwengwe says he is bitter with the media houses, which publish such advertisement that contravene section 12 and 13 of Annex 14 of the Advertising Standards.
Of late, Tom, Harry and Dick have been producing drinks that do not measure up to the standards, but they are forced onto Ugandans by way of deceptive advertising. That is how such drinks like Mukamanayamba, Karaso and others have managed to penetrate the degenerating society.
Two years ago, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde was coerced to provide a list of certified energy drinks and their contents to parliament, and she did provide the list.
These energy drinks are soft drinks containing high percentage of sugar, caffeine, or another stimulant, typically consumed during or after sporting activity or as a way of overcoming tiredness.
The minister provided a list of the nine certified energy drinks that included among others Power Play made by Century Bottling Ltd, Riham Rock boom and Riham X Energy from Harris International Ltd and Crown Beverages Ltd products Sting Gold Rush and Sting Red Rush.
Others were; Besi Uganda Ltd’s non carbonated soft drink -Kirungi Kazi Booster, also Canaan Bulls Energy Drink (Canaan Investments Company Limited) Thunder caffeinated carbonated energy drink manufactured by Kiri Bottling Company Ltd and Yaket by Yaket International Limited.
At the time, the UNBS website showed that the permit for Hariss International Ltd to manufacture Riham X Energy drink had expired on 2 August 2019, while that for Yaket International Limited for Yaket energy drink had expired on 26 July 2019.
Mbwatekamwa was concerned that there were over 50 brands of energy drinks in the market and thereby asked government to provide a list of certified energy drinks and their contents.
Hon Amelia concurred with Mbwatekamwa, noting that high consumption of caffeinated energy drinks could cause addition among other effects.
Mbwatekamwa argued that the government should ask all those who advertise in the media to warn the public on the effects of the high consumption of energy drinks. While Kamusiime said that the ministry of Trade should prevail over Uganda National Bureau of Standards-UNBS in a bid to halt distribution and sale of energy drinks that were not yet certified.
Hon Amelia said in a move to enforce regulations on the energy drinks, the government planned to close some of the factories that were manufacturing uncertified energy drinks. Kyambadde did not however mention the affected companies or when the action would be taken.