Kampala — THE Pader District Council has resolved to charge sh10,000 on every jerrycan of waragi, leading to reduced consumption of the local brew.

The levy, which is charged on every jerrycan that enters or passes through the district, is aimed at reducing the high rate of domestic violence among internally-displaced persons (IDPs), which was caused by drinking the waragi.

The district chairman, Peter Odok W'Ocheng, said recently, they netted 250 jerrycans of crude waragi, which was being transported to Torit in southern Sudan.

He said the jerrycans were released after the owners paid the levy.

"We are doing this to control the rate of consumption of crude waragi called 'Dete,' which is poisonous. Many lives in Pader have been claimed by this crude waragi," he explained.

The RDC, Santo Okot Lapolo, said that before levying the tax, there were many cases of domestic violence, assault and theft at the Police stations.

"Many of the IDPs would wake up in the morning and head straight away to start drinking waragi instead of doing some productive work in the fight against poverty," he said.

Lapolo said sub-county leaders had been directed to impound or collect taxes from anybody with waragi.