The Ugandan police have said that they will start arresting people who smoke in public places for causing pollution and violating people's standards of living.

Deputy police spokesman John Kimera told Xinhua on Friday that the law against smoking in public is already in place and police are soon embarking on an exercise to arrest those violating the law.

He added that the public has already been warned and therefore there will be no excuse for those found breaking the law.

The country's environmental watchdog, the National Environmental Management Authority, last year passed a by-law prohibiting the smoking of tobacco products or holding a lighted tobacco product in an enclosed indoor area of a public place.

This is the first time the east African country legislated against smoking in public places.

The public places are those in indoor places, including officesand cafes.

Uganda joined other countries like Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, Malta and Bhutan that are implementing smoke free workplace legislation for all workers.

Source: Xinhua