Skip to content
Wakilii
Sign in Sign up free
Back to laws

Potable Spirits Act

Act 1965 No. 31 Act 31 of 1965 Current version · as at 31 December 2023

An Act to provide for the control of the compounding of potable spirits and for related matters.

Enacted1965
Commenced15 October 1965
Last amended28 July 2023Act 17 of 2023
Point-in-time consolidation · as at 31 December 2023. This page may not reflect amendments made after that date. Confirm the current position against the latest Uganda Gazette before relying on it.

About this Act

An Act to provide for the control of the compounding of potable spirits and for related matters.

Jurisdiction
Uganda
Type
Principal Legislation
Status
In force
Language
English

Amendments

1 amending instrument
  1. 28 July 2023 Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 Act 17 of 2023

Full text of the Act

0 parts · 5 sections

Enhanced Annotated View adds approved, source-linked propositions, operative requirements, judicial passages, related provisions, amendment notes and authority status. Choose Original PDF to inspect the source consolidation.

Uganda

Potable Spirits Act

Act 1965 No. 31

Commenced on 15 October 1965

[This is the version of this document at 31 December 2023.]

An Act to provide for the control of the compounding of potable spirits and for related matters.

1. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires

"compounding spirits" and its cognate expressions means to communicate any flavour to or to mix any ingredient or material with spirits but not so as to denature the spirits;

"currency point" has the value assigned to it in the Schedule to this Act;

"denatured spirits" means spirits mixed with any substance so as to render the mixture unfit and incapable of being readily converted so as to be fit for human consumption as a beverage;

"licensing officer" means a person appointed by the Minister to be a licensing officer for the purposes of this Act;

"spirits" includes spirits of any description and all mixtures, compounds or preparations made with spirits, but does not include any denatured spirits.

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Definition

This section supplies the definitions or statutory meaning governing “Interpretation”.

“In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires "compounding spirits" and its cognate expressions means to communicate any flavour to or to mix any ingredient or material with spirits but not so as to denature the spirits;”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

Use this definition when interpreting other provisions that employ the language addressed by “Interpretation”.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

4
  1. "currency point" has the value assigned to it in the Schedule to this Act;
  2. "denatured spirits" means spirits mixed with any substance so as to render the mixture unfit and incapable of being readily converted so as to be fit for human consumption as a beverage;
  3. "licensing officer" means a person appointed by the Minister to be a licensing officer for the purposes of this Act;
  4. "spirits" includes spirits of any description and all mixtures, compounds or preparations made with spirits, but does not include any denatured spirits.
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions

No express internal or cross-Act reference appears in this section.

Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

2. Compounding spirits without licence

(1)

Subject to this section, no person shall compound for profit or sale any spirits otherwise than in accordance with a licence issued under section 3 .

(2)

Any person who compounds spirits without a licence issued under section 3 commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred twenty currency points or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or both.

(3)

Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to the bona fide compounding of spirits-

(a)

in any canteen, club, institute, mess or similar institution not conducted by a private individual for personal profit, for the lawful sale of the spirits to the members only of the canteen, club, institute, mess or similar institution for consumption therein;

(b)

in any vessel in territorial waters or in any aircraft for the lawful sale of the spirits to any passenger or officer or member of the crew of the vessel or aircraft for consumption in the vessel or aircraft;

(c)

in the course of the lawful preparation or administration of medicine by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, a veterinary surgeon registered under the Veterinary Surgeons Act or a pharmacist registered under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act;

(d)

in any circumstances or in any other case in respect of which the Minister, by statutory instrument made for that purpose, has granted an exemption from this section.

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Offence or consequence

This section creates or governs statutory liability concerning “Compounding spirits without licence”.

“(1) Subject to this section, no person shall compound for profit or sale any spirits otherwise than in accordance with a licence issued under section 3.”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

A party alleging or defending liability should test the facts and prescribed consequence against each operative requirement.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

7
  1. (1) Subject to this section, no person shall compound for profit or sale any spirits otherwise than in accordance with a licence issued under section 3.
  2. (2) Any person who compounds spirits without a licence issued under section 3 commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred twenty currency points or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or both.
  3. (3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply to the bona fide compounding of spirits-
  4. (a) in any canteen, club, institute, mess or similar institution not conducted by a private individual for personal profit, for the lawful sale of the spirits to the members only of the canteen, club, institute, mess or similar institution for consumption therein;
  5. (b) in any vessel in territorial waters or in any aircraft for the lawful sale of the spirits to any passenger or officer or member of the crew of the vessel or aircraft for consumption in the vessel or aircraft;
  6. (c) in the course of the lawful preparation or administration of medicine by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, a veterinary surgeon registered under the Veterinary Surgeons Act or a pharmacist registered under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act;
  7. (d) in any circumstances or in any other case in respect of which the Minister, by statutory instrument made for that purpose, has granted an exemption from this section.
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions
Section 3 · Issue of licences Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Pharmacy and Drugs Act Veterinary Surgeons Act
Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

3. Issue of licences

The licensing officer may, upon an application made for that purpose to him or her, issue a licence for the compounding of spirits under this Act subject to such terms and conditions, including the specification of formulae, as he or she thinks fit

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Statutory power

This section confers or regulates the statutory power described as “Issue of licences”.

“The licensing officer may, upon an application made for that purpose to him or her, issue a licence for the compounding of spirits under this Act subject to such terms and conditions, including the specification of formulae, as he or she thinks fit”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

The power must be exercised by the authorised decision-maker, within the conditions and purpose stated in the section.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

1
  1. The licensing officer may, upon an application made for that purpose to him or her, issue a licence for the compounding of spirits under this Act subject to such terms and conditions, including the specification of formulae, as he or she thinks fit
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions

No express internal or cross-Act reference appears in this section.

Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

4. Regulations

The Minister responsible for finance may, by statutory instrument, make regulations (a) prescribing the form of licences and the fees to be paid for a licence;

(b)

for the duration and cancellation of licences; and

(c)

generally for better carrying into effect the provisions and purposes of this Act.

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Statutory power

This section confers or regulates the statutory power described as “Regulations”.

“The Minister responsible for finance may, by statutory instrument, make regulations (a) prescribing the form of licences and the fees to be paid for a licence;”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

The power must be exercised by the authorised decision-maker, within the conditions and purpose stated in the section.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

2
  1. (b) for the duration and cancellation of licences; and
  2. (c) generally for better carrying into effect the provisions and purposes of this Act.
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions

No express internal or cross-Act reference appears in this section.

Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

5. Power to amend Schedule

The Minister responsible for finance may, by statutory instrument, with the approval of Cabinet, amend the Schedule to this Act Schedule (Sections 1 , 5 )

Currency point A currency point is equivalent to twenty thousand shillings.

Section analysis Source-linked statutory analysis Source linked
Approved statute annotation. Statutory quotations are matched to this consolidation and judicial passages are linked to judgments. Check the primary sources alongside this analysis.
What this section does
Statutory power

This section confers or regulates the statutory power described as “Power to amend Schedule”.

“The Minister responsible for finance may, by statutory instrument, with the approval of Cabinet, amend the Schedule to this Act Schedule (Sections 1, 5)”
Primary legislation Source quotation matched
Practical effect

The power must be exercised by the authorised decision-maker, within the conditions and purpose stated in the section.

Deterministic editorial synthesis — not a substitute for the statutory text Editorial synthesis approved
Elements or requirements

Operative requirements extracted from the consolidated text.

1
  1. The Minister responsible for finance may, by statutory instrument, with the approval of Cabinet, amend the Schedule to this Act Schedule (Sections 1, 5)
Judicial interpretation

Express propositions in source-matched passages from judgments citing this section.

0

No judgment in the current Wakilii corpus expressly cites this section. Bare rule-number references are not assigned where the Order cannot be verified.

Related provisions
Section 1 · Interpretation
Amendment notes

No section-specific note is recorded. Act-level consolidation history:

  • [Amended by Law Revision (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2023 (Act 17 of 2023) on 28 July 2023]

Act-level history only · Do not infer that every amendment changed this section

Authority status: legislation is primary authority; judgment weight follows the displayed court level and the ratio caveat. Check version history

Original Laws of Uganda consolidation (as at 31 December 2023) — public-domain legislation, consolidated by ULII / Laws.Africa (CC BY 4.0). This is a point-in-time text and may not reflect later amendments; confirm against the latest Uganda Gazette before relying on it.