The problem for U. S. cigarette companies is that smoking in the United States is decreasing. Stockholders want to see the companies they own make money. Because their sales in the U.

"When it comes to the penalties in the tobacco control act, it is, in every sense of the word, draconian," the country's largest selling newspaper, Kuensel, said in an editorial.

Mr Isaac Ampeire, the Batu company secretary, attributed the strong growth to higher cigarette sales volumes and exchange rate benefits arising from a weaker Shilling on the leaf export revenues.