Arua, Uganda — The Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol Uganda Chapter (CAIA–Uganda), in partnership with the West Nile Education Trust Fund (WNETF) and other stakeholders, on Friday held a community marathon in Arua City aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and discouraging the consumption of illicit alcohol.
The marathon, held on 27 December 2025, sought to encourage communities in the West Nile region to avoid illicit spirits as a pathway to improving household welfare and supporting access to university education for all. It featured race categories of 21km, 10km, 5km, and 2km and attracted over 500 participants from across the region.
The event was officially flagged off from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Arua and brought together athletes, community members, government officials, cultural elders, and civil society actors. Beyond physical fitness, the marathon served as a platform to highlight the link between illicit alcohol consumption and poor education outcomes in West Nile.
Organisers noted that in many households, income that could otherwise support school fees, scholastic materials, and basic family needs is instead spent on illicit spirits. This often results in financial strain, declining health, reduced productivity, and ultimately the withdrawal of children from school. Health complications linked to illicit alcohol further weaken families, leaving caregivers unable to work consistently or meet their children’s educational needs.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Angupale Swadik Alemi, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (DRCC) of Arua City, former Member of Parliament for Ayivu County, and a founding member of WNETF, emphasised the role of education in breaking cycles of poverty.
“When families lose income and health to illicit alcohol, education becomes the first casualty. Yet education remains the strongest pathway to breaking poverty in our communities,” he said.
To sustain community dialogue on the dangers of illicit alcohol, CAIA–Uganda, with support from the Arua City Boda Boda Association, onboarded 40 boda boda riders under an initiative dubbed “Ebiboozi bya Boda”—loosely translated as Boda Boda Conversations. The initiative leverages the daily interactions of boda boda riders to engage passengers and community members in discussions on the dangers of illicit spirits, safer drinking practices, and healthier lifestyle choices.
The launch of the initiative in Arua was marked by a boda boda roadshow through high-traffic areas of the city.
Awaku Swadik, Chairperson of the Arua City Boda Boda Association, alongside Mahadi Yusuf, Secretary General of the West Nile Boda Boda Union, welcomed the initiative and pledged their support.
“We are grateful to CAIA–Uganda for involving boda boda riders in this important campaign. We want our people to stay healthy,” they said, committing to monitor and support riders as they spread awareness about illicit alcohol in their communities.
Ismail Yassin, one of the participating boda boda riders, also pledged his commitment, saying he would actively engage passengers on the dangers of illicit alcohol and encourage safer choices for families.
Arua has in recent years recorded multiple incidents linked to illicit spirits. In August 2022, more than 17 people died and several others were hospitalised after consuming City 5 Alcohol, a locally produced gin later found to contain dangerously high levels of methanol. While authorities banned the product and arrested those responsible, other illicit alcoholic beverages continue to circulate in the market, posing ongoing risks to unsuspecting consumers.
Okuni Tamimu, a refuse scout in Central Division, Arua City, highlighted the scale of the problem.
“Every day as we collect rubbish in Arua, we come across countless bottles of illicit spirits. This shows how widespread their consumption is,” he said.
Fatuma, a boda boda rider in Arua, shared that she recently attended a burial of a community member who died as a result of consuming illicit alcohol.
These continued risks have informed CAIA–Uganda’s targeted interventions in Arua, particularly through engagement with the city’s large boda boda sector. With thousands of riders operating daily—many of whom are directly exposed to illicit alcohol—the sector provides a strategic platform for sustained community awareness and behaviour change.
CAIA–Uganda continues to encourage adults of legal drinking age who choose to drink to avoid illicit alcohol and instead opt for regulated products that meet established safety standards, while safeguarding children and adolescents from exposure.
Through these efforts, the Coalition aims to reduce harm, protect lives, and promote safer festive celebrations as Arua enters the year 2026.
About CAIA–Uganda
The Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol Uganda Chapter (CAIA–Uganda) is a neutral, evidence-based platform that brings together government institutions, civil society, youth- and faith-based organisations, academia, media, and responsible private-sector actors to reduce harm caused by illicit alcohol. The Coalition promotes coordinated action across policy, enforcement, communication, and community mobilisation to protect lives and strengthen national well-being.
CAIA–Uganda is hosted by Reach A Hand Uganda and includes partners such as Brands On A Mission, the Anti-Counterfeit Network, Arrow Empirical Research & Skills Enhancement Co. Ltd (AERSE), ADAAM, and other stakeholders.
