Two Arrested in Lira for Producing Deadly Illicit Brew

Authorities in Lira City have arrested two suspects, a man and a woman, for their alleged involvement in the production and distribution of toxic, low-cost alcoholic drinks. The arrests were made during an operation in Jinja Camp following intelligence reports of illegal alcohol manufacturing.

The Lira City Security Committee has been increasingly concerned about the proliferation of cheap spirits, often sold for as little as Shs1,000. This trend has been linked to a rise in mental health cases and has placed a significant strain on the Lira Regional Referral Hospital’s psychiatric department.

Investigations revealed that some producers are bypassing normal fermentation processes. Instead, they are reportedly mixing industrial spirit with unfermented wine, deceptively marketing it as having a low alcohol content. Assistant Resident City Commissioner Bonny Ferdinand Okello Alele stated that products labeled as 12 percent alcohol often contain up to 60 percent industrial spirit, making them extremely dangerous and potentially lethal.

During the raid, officials discovered a makeshift production site where unidentified chemicals were allegedly mixed with water and packaged as “Iguli Mogo Amoga.” This particular brew has been associated with fatalities, particularly among the youth. Recovered items included over 140 liters of chemicals, more than 200 jerrycans of suspected illicit brew, and large drums ready for packaging, indicating a large-scale operation.

One suspect claimed the chemicals were purchased for Shs37 million, highlighting the significant financial investment and potential profits in this illegal trade. The Resident City Commissioner, Lawrence Egole, warned the public to avoid unlabelled drinks with unverified sources and urged increased operations across the Lango Sub-region. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards has been engaged to analyze the seized substances.

The suspects are currently detained at Lira City West Central Police Station as investigations continue to identify other members of the distribution network and trace the origin of the chemicals. Residents are encouraged to report any suspected illegal alcohol production or sales to the authorities.