Health Ministry Recommends Immediate Return of ‘Kawunyemu’ to Avert Accidents

The Ministry of Health has proposed the reinstatement of breathalyzers commonly referred to as “Kawunyemu”.

A breathalyzer is a device for estimating blood alcohol content (BAC) or detecting viruses or diseases from a breath sample.

This follows a meeting between the Health Ministry, Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT), Uganda Police Force (UPF), and UNRA.

The move is intended to reduce Road Traffic Accidents caused by drivers under the influence of Alcohol, among others.

The use of breathalyzers was halted in 2020 following the COVID-19 peak.

The Ministry advised against the use of breathalyzers for fear of spreading Covid-19 in the process.

However, since then, Uganda has registered an increase in the number of Road Traffic Accidents with 40% being fatal.

Accidents due to drunk driving can affect all road users including children, pedestrians, and other drivers who are not drunk.

“Following the significant reduction of COVID-19 cases, the MOH has evaluated the risk of getting COVID-19 through Breathalyzers and finds it very negligible,” Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Director of General Health Services at the Health Ministry noted.

He noted that the Uganda Police has confirmed that each client will use a separate, sealed, and disposable tube to blow through the breathalyzer.

“It is against this background, therefore, that MOH recommends the immediate re-introduction of breathalyzers to test alcohol levels consumed by motorists,” he said.

“This is a countermeasure against deaths due to road traffic accidents by drunk drivers. However, the public is strongly advised not to drive after alcohol consumption and to cooperate with the Uganda Police Force,” he explained.