By our reporter

Uganda government has been urged to continue supporting farmers who have resorted to drop Tobacco growing to other alternative crops like rice among others.

The call has been made by Tanzanian MPs who are on 4day learning visit in Uganda about the progress of the best practice on alternative livelihood on Tobacco control Bill.

They visited Kanungu and Rukungiri districts where farmers have resorted to growing other cash crops.

Tanzanian MPs say that they are also planning to come up with the same bill to regulate the manufacture, sale, labeling, promotion, advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products because they are many growing community in Tanzania.

They also said that all East African countries should join hands and campaign against tobacco use.

Of all East African states, Kenya is the only country which has a law on tobacco use. Rwanda is in process of drafting the law on tobacco use while Uganda and Tanzania have drafted bills on tobacco use.

Tobacco contains over 400 toxic substances and research indicates that there are over 25 related diseases affecting the lungs, the heart and blood veins.

Smoking related illnesses include cancer of the bladder, larynx, esophagus, mouth, throat, lungs, and heart diseases such as heart attack, coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Other smoking-related ailments are asthma, childhood respiratory ailments, cataracts, diabetes, angina, gum disease, gangrene, and impotence, loss of smell and taste, osteoporosis (in women), peripheral artery disease, pneumonia, premature aging and stomach ulcers