Eastern Equatoria's Budi County authorities poured down 15 drums of illicit alcohol, an equivalent of more than 3,000 liters, down the drain in Lotukei Payam last Sunday.
According to authorities, the illicit alcohol locally known as Guu (Kasese-Kasese) was imported from neighboring Uganda through Ikotos County.
Early this month, state governor Louis Lobong ratified a gubernatorial executive order banning the importation and consumption of certain alcoholic drinks deemed dangerous by the state. Last month, the state’s council of ministers gave traders a 40-day ultimatum to dispose of the banned alcohol from their stores.
Budi County Commissioner Akileo Mboya Peter speaking to Radio Tamazuj said, “we have poured over 15 drums of alcohol in Lotukei Payam in Budi County. Following our security analysis in the county, we have found out that most of the security issues within the county is alcohol-related causing insecurity and in this sense, the presence of this especially this illicit alcohol that comes from Uganda, we have realized that has negative consequences on the community's security and peace."
Mboya said many deaths in the state have been linked to the abuse of alcohol, stressing that it is the government's responsibility to protect the people.
He revealed that the illicit alcohol was intercepted on its way to the county and the importer has been arrested.
"We intercepted again another notorious criminal who is dealing with this alcohol and we apprehended him together with the alcohol that is why we went and poured it publicly in front of the community. This is the step that we are taking and we will never give up, we will continue to crack this alcohol," he warned.
He called on his counterpart in Ikotos County to work together in ensuring that the order is implemented and those found violating it are apprehended and brought to a court of law.
"Following this, we are registering a slowdown of security issues, and now we have seen people are changing, becoming healthy, not yellowish like the previous time," Mboya claimed.
Sunday Taudesio brews 'Siko', a local gin. She says the order is not practical as her family entirely depends on the proceeds for survival.
“I don’t agree with this issue because Siko is helping us in every way. If you do Siko business, and of course you know the salary of our husband is not enough. We use the money to pay school fees and buy food at home. If the government bans Siko, we cannot manage. If the government says they want to ban siko, let them employ all of us and increase the salaries of our husbands in office," she angrily advised.
Brenda Sisto, also stressed that the ban will affect many families including hers.
“This alcohol we are making has helped the children a lot in school and to put food on the table. Now when we stop brewing alcohol, the family will be destroyed. Sisto said. "My message to the government is that I might face difficulties when this siko is banned."
Earlier, state authorities encouraged the traders and local brewers to diversify their businesses.