KABALE-A new study conducted by Kabale University has revealed that women in the Greater Kabale District consume more alcohol than men, with the trend being driven largely by domestic neglect and abandonment by their spouses.
The study, carried out by Dr. John Bosco Turyasingura and two fellow lecturers from the Department of Management Sciences in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, paints a worrying picture of alcohol consumption patterns in the districts of Kabale, Rubanda, and Rukiga.
Speaking during a one-day dissemination workshop held at Kirigime Guest House in Southern Division, Kabale Municipality, Dr. Turyasingura said the findings indicate that 51.8% of women in the region consume alcohol compared to 48.2% of men.
Most of the female drinkers reside in rural areas where cheap, locally brewed alcohol like waragi, brown sorghum beer, and omuramba is readily available and consumed regularly by about 33.9% of women.
“The study found that many women are resorting to alcohol as a coping mechanism for domestic stress and the burden of responsibilities after being deserted by their husbands,” Dr. Turyasingura said. “In many cases, these women are left to fend for their families alone—paying school fees, providing food, and handling all household needs.
”The researchers also found that excessive alcohol consumption among women has exacerbated poverty levels in the region, with 93.9% of affected households facing severe socio-economic challenges, including loss of family cohesion and increased domestic instability.
“Many families have lost meaning and stability due to alcohol abuse,” Dr. Turyasingura emphasized.
The study ranks Kabale District as having the highest alcohol consumption rates in the region, attributed partly to the illegal smuggling of beer across the Rwanda border. Rukiga and Rubanda follow in that order.
In response to these alarming findings, Dr. Turyasingura has urged the Ugandan government to increase taxes on alcoholic beverages and to enforce stricter regulations on bar operating hours to help reduce access and consumption.
Women who participated in the workshop voiced strong concerns about being abandoned by their husbands and expressed support for the proposed tax hike.
They believe that making alcohol more expensive could also discourage their spouses from drinking and push them to resume their family roles.
According to the Ministry of Health’s 2023 assessment, the Kigezi Sub-region ranks as the second-highest consumer and abuser of alcohol in the entire country.
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