Empowering Africa’s Tobacco Control Advocates: ATIM Hosts a Training in Entebbe Uganda on Tobacco Industry Monitoring for Effective Tobacco Control Policy Advocacy
As the Tobacco Industry continues to aggressively expands its reach across Africa with e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches often disguised as “safer alternatives”—the need for a well-coordinated, informed response has never been more urgent. These novel tobacco and nicotine products (NTPs) are rapidly gaining ground, targeting young people and exploiting regulatory loopholes, especially in low- and middle-income countries already burdened by tobacco-related diseases and deaths.
To counter this growing threat, the Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM), housed at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Health Sciences, led a high-impact hybrid training program to strengthen the capacity of tobacco control stakeholders across the continent.
From 28th April to 2nd May 2025, ATIM hosted an intensive in-person workshop in Entebbe, Uganda. The event was organised in collaboration with the local Tobacco Control partner organization, with support from the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). The workshop followed ATIM online course “Building Capacity in Industry Monitoring for Effective Tobacco Control in Africa (BETA),” which enrolled over 200 participants, from whom 20 advocates were awarded competitive scholarships to attend the in-person sessions. Delegates came from Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia
The workshop was officially opened Dr. Hafsa Lukwata, from the Ministry of Health, Uganda. Dr. Hafsa highlighted the importance of safeguarding public health policies from tobacco industry interference and applauded ATIM’s role in building regional expertise to support the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Led by Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, Director of ATIM, the training featured a distinguished lineup of global and regional experts from organizations such as Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), National Council Against Smoking, South Africa Medical Research Council, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), University of Bath, and the Africa Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA).
Over five days, participants engaged in intensive sessions on the implementation status of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Africa, techniques for conducting online industry secret document searches at the UCSF Legacy Tobacco Industry Document Library, advocating for tobacco taxes, using industry monitoring tools (including a mobile app developed by ATIM), legal perspectives on tobacco control, stakeholder/political mapping, and developing evidence-based policy advocacy plans. The workshop created a platform for cross-border learning, strategy sharing, and regional collaboration ensuring that the next generation of African tobacco control leaders is equipped to respond to both existing and emerging threats.
ATIM was officially recognized as a research entity at the University of Pretoria in 2023, becoming one of only three tobacco industry monitoring observatories globally. Its mission is to advance transdisciplinary research, support policy development, and amplify public health impact throughout Africa.
As tobacco companies shift tactics and push emerging nicotine products into African markets, this workshop is a timely and strategic response. It underscores the need for collective action, strong national leadership, and skilled local advocates to implement life-saving policies aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3.a.
Learn more about ATIM’s work and upcoming programs at www.atim.co.za
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