Parliament’s Trade Committee has summoned 10 producers of energy drinks to explain themselves in connection with claims that their products are laced with harmful drugs.
The committee led by Mwine Mpaka was on Monday interacting with officials from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) about the reported number of substandard goods getting into the country.
In the meeting, several MPs said the different energy drinks producing companies were misleading people with adverts indicating that their products boost sexual stamina and correct erectile dysfunction.
The committee listed 10 companies including the producers of Mukama Nayamba, Rock Boom, Kabiriti, Senga Nalongo, Akaboozi, Kituzi, Power Bank, Kabode, Bebe Wine, Kampaho, and Ekyama kya work.
Kabweri County MP Mugole Mauku David questioned if the content in the drinks is as advertised and whether they are harmful or not.
Mpaka asked the companies to come with a sample of their products and the adverts among others. The companies are supposed to interface with the MPs alongside UNBS and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
UNBS Executive Director David Livingstone Ebiru said that the problem with the companies is the misleading messaging, but he adds that UNBS intends to work with them to ensure that they meet the standards.
There are over 100 energy drinks in the market according to UNBS.