Kampala — THE Government is drafting a law to control the importation, manufacture and use of toxic chemicals in industries, the gender and social development minister has said.

Syda Bbumba said the Control of Toxic Chemicals Bill is before the Cabinet for discussion, before it is taken to Parliament for debate and final legislation.

The law, which takes off next year, is in line with the adoption of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Uganda is a signatory, Bbumba added.

She said her ministry was vital in the legislation on toxic chemicals because workers in factories are affected by the chemicals, which are used in industries such as textile, pharmaceuticals, plastics, paint and pesticide factories.

Bbumba said a national authority to spearhead implementation of the convention had been established and added that the law would regulate the use of acid, which is often misused by people to attack rivals.

Bbumba was yesterday speaking at the opening of the sixth regional meeting of national authorities of state parties to the chemical weapons convention in Africa.

She said Uganda lacks technical people to enable her meet her obligations under the convention. "Uganda attaches importance to the implementation measures as outlined by Article VII of the convention. In spite of our challenges, we are gradually making progress. We are committed to expediting the process of having a national legislative framework in place as soon as is practical," she said.

The three-day meeting, taking place at Speke Resort Munyonyo, has attracted participants from Gabon, Ivory Coast, DR. Congo, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Libya, Algeria and South Africa.

Mirjam Blaak, Uganda's deputy head of mission to the Benelux, warned that criminals could start use chemicals if there are no laws to control the use of chemicals on the continent.

The summit was organised by the Netherlands-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Government of Uganda.