By Andrew Irumba
The Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odong has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide security to firms that are growing marijuana in Uganda for export purposes.
According to a letter written by Gen. Odong dated August 21, 2019, the Minister wants police to ensure that the operations of so far two companies, Prime Ranchers Ltd and Urban Properties LTD are secured at their cannabis farms which they have set up in various parts of the country.
Gen. Odong’s letter, addressed to the IGP Martins Okoth Ochola reads in part thus;
RE: NARCOTICS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ACT
The Act enjoins police to supervise the licensed growing of Narcotic and psychotropic Substances.
My attention has been drawn to the fact that Urban Properties Ltd are growing cannabis in Nwoya District experimentally, and Prime Ranchers are similarly doing the same in Luweero District.
I am also informed that the two entities have established a processing plant in Entebbe.
This is to instruct you to establish supervisory and monitoring capacity at both cannabis growing farms as well as at the processing facility.”
This however comes at a time when another minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister for Health, was recently linked to weed growing deal with Israeli company Together Pharma, although she has since come out to refute the allegations. Cannabis growing looks to be the-in-thing in Uganda nowadays.
