Prime
Trade Minister lists certified energy drink brands
Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Minister, Ms Amelia Kyambadde has provided a list of certified energy drinks brands being sold in Uganda, to Parliament.
Energy drinks are soft drinks containing high percentages of sugar, caffeine or another stimulant, typically consumed during or after a sporting activity or to overcome fatigue from other physical activities.
The list of the nine certified energy drinks brands include among others; Power Play; made by Century Bottling Ltd, Riham Rock Boom and Riham X Energy; made by Harris International Ltd and Sting Gold Rush and Sting Red Rush, which are produced by Crown Beverages Ltd.
Others are; Kirungi Kazi Booster; made by Besi Uganda Ltd, Canaan Bulls Energy Drink; manufactured by Canaan Investments Company Limited, Thunder Caffeinated Carbonated Energy Drink, manufactured by Kiri Bottling Company Ltd and Yaket Energy drink which is made by Yaket International Limited.
However, a quick search on the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) website shows that the permit for Hariss International Ltd to manufacture Riham X Energy drink expired on 2 August 2019, while that for Yaket International Limited under which Yaket Energy Drink is manufactured, expired on July 26, 2019.
UNBS is yet to respond why the list on its website differs from the one Ms Kyambadde provided to Parliament.
Ms Kyambadde provided the list in a statement on the dangers of energy drinks, following a 20 August directive by the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, after Kasambya County MP, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa raised a matter of national importance saying; there are several energy drink brand on the market which could cause health risks to people due to limited regulation of the energy drinks market.
Mr Mbwatekamwa was concerned that there are over 50 brands of energy drink brand on the market and asked government to provide a list of certified energy drinks and their contents.
Ms Kadaga concurred with Mr Mbwatekamwa saying that the high consumption rate of caffeinated energy drinks could cause addiction among other effects, to consumers.
Mr Mbwatekamwa and Butemba County MP,Pentagon Kamusiime want an immediate government intervention to regulate the energy drinks market.
Mr Mbwatekamwa says that the government should order companies that advertise energy drinks to warn the public on the effects of the high consumption of the beverages.
The Trade Ministry, according to Mr Kamusiime, should prevail over UNBS to halt the distribution and sale of energy drinks that are not certified.
In response, Ms Kyambadde said that her ministry in conjunction with UNBS will sensitise the public on the proper use of the energy drinks.
Ms Kyambadde says that government plans to close factories that manufacture uncertified energy drinks.
She, however, did not reveal the targeted companies or when the crackdown will start.
