Internal Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odong and Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng are contradicting each other over the growth of marijuana with the two issuing contradictory statements over whether farms have started growing it.
The behind-the-scenes pushing and shoving over the growth of marijuana was brought to the fore after an August 21st 2019 letter by Gen Odong to the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth-Ochola was published on social media.
In the letter, Gen Odong was directing the IGP to supervise and monitor farms that are involved in the growing of marijuana.
“My attention has been drawn to the fact that Urban Properties Ltd are growing it [cannabis] in Nwoya District experimentally, and Prime Rachers are similarly doing it in Luweero District. I am also informed that the two entities have established a plant in Entebbe,”Gen Odong’s letter reads.
Gen Odong added: “This is to instruct you to establish supervisory and monitoring capacity on growing farms as well as at the processing facility.”
However, Gen Odong’s letter was contradicted by Health Minister Dr Aceng, who posted on social media insisting Cabinet has not authorised the growing of marijuana.
“I have not issued any authorisation for cannabis growing in Uganda. Cabinet is yet to consider the feasibility of this,”Dr Aceng wrote on her Facebook page on the evening of 7th May.
She added: “I have seen social media posts alleging that I am in trouble over cannabis and others saying that I am dealing in cannabis. It is unfortunate that some people always choose to circulate wrong information. I wish to state that I am not involved in growing cannabis and I am in no trouble over cannabis,”
