The Uganda Police has arrested eighteen people suspected of involvement in the sale of Shisha in various entertainment hangouts in the capital, Kampala.
Shisha smoking, also called hookah, narghile, waterpipe, or hubble bubble smoking, is a way of smoking tobacco, sometimes mixed with fruit or molasses sugar, through a bowl and hose or tube.
According to ASP Luke Owoyesigire, Kampala the Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy spokesperson, Jinja road Police station on Sunday launched an operation to clamp down on the reported increasing cases of Shisha selling in various bars in Kampala.
“The operation, was done on bars H2O, Gabiro in Bugolobi and Kyoto at Centenary park. Eighteen (18) people were arrested including those who were blocking Police from performing their duties, while others were bar owners dealing in the Shisha selling business,” Owoyesigire said.
He says the suspects will be taken to court since dealing in shisha contravenes the Tobacco Control Act of 2015, before heaping praise on police officers who were involved in the operation as well as the Ministry of Health.
On January 5, another operation was conducted at Casablanca bar in Kampala and scores were arrested and later charged. Police says related operations will continue especially in areas of Bugolobi and at Centenary park.
Shisha remains a popular feature in many hangouts in Kampala for its lucrative returns to bar owners.
A shisha pot in many city clubs and bars costs between Shs 8,000 and Shs 10,000.
Shisha smokers are at risk of the same kinds of diseases as cigarette smokers, such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease and problems during pregnancy.