Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng is reported to be opposed to the proposal by several government agencies that included cabinet to have a nod to planting, processing and export of Marijuana products.

However, as she drags her feet, it has emerged that on December 7, 2017, Uganda exported unrefined cannabis buds/ flowers to South Africa’s National Analytical Forensic Services in Pretoria. The order to Industrial Hemp (U) Ltd, a private company, was valued at $10,000 (Shs37.1m).

Eagle Online has established that a top army general bypassed Dr. Aceng and planted his Marijuana in one of the districts in North West and it is from this garden that Uganda has been carrying out tests before full scale production kicks off.

Uganda is set to export medical marijuana products to Europe and other countries in the west.
According to WebMD, a global website that provides health information, states that the greatest amount of evidence for the therapeutic effects of cannabis relate to its ability to reduce chronic pain, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy and spasticity (tight or stiff muscles)

Also read about the laws on Marijuana:the-narcotic-drugs-and-psychotropic-substances-control-Act(4)

The news about the exportation of medical marijuana products came as a five-member cabinet committee met this morning to discuss the dangers and benefits of medical marijuana.
The committee chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, includes Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng, Trade (Amelia Kyambadde), Finance (Matia Kasaija), Agriculture (Vincent Ssempijja), and Internal Affairs (Gen Jeje Odongo).

About 20 companies have so far sent letters to Dr Aceng requesting to grow marijuana for medical purposes.
The Cabinet sub-committee was tasked to look at the health and financial benefits from medical marijuana, one of the money-spinning, but highly sensitive ventures. The committee is expected to table its findings to Cabinet on May 15.

However, sources say that apart from Dr. Aceng, the rest of the members have approved Marijuana business. It is said that Dr. Aceng is reportedly under pressure from major drug dealers who supply drugs to Uganda that with the Marijuana business, their products won’t be marketable. Other sources allege that Dr Aceng is judgmental to the Marijuana because of her being ‘born again’. It is said that in one of her submissions, she asked what kind of explanation was she going to give to the religious leaders if their heard that she participated in a meeting that legalized Marijuana business.

To get free cannabis products, check this post

President Museveni constituted the five member team and also instructed Dr. Rugunda to work with Dr Aceng and look into the medical components of cannabis.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 2015 was duly passed by Cabinet before it went to Parliament and therefore, allows the growth and legal transaction of Marijuana for medical use. However, under same teams and conditions, the same Heath Minister is required to give written consent to verified drug growers and that is why Dr. Aceng believes she can pull a rag on the projects.

Uganda stands to ripe big from the tax as a result of exportation of Marijuana business and employment opportunities for the local population.

Some of the companies eyeing Marijuana business in Uganda

1.Industrial Hemp (U) Ltd
2.Together Pharma Ltd
3.Natgro Phama (U) Ltd
4.Medraw (U) SMC Ltd
5.Urban Properties (U) Ltd
6.Prime Ranchers
7.Silver Seeds (U) Ltd
8.Dave and Dave Group
9.Seven Blades
10.Cannops Africa
11.Quest Worths International Group
12.Premier Hemp (U) Ltd
13.Sativa Agro-tech Ltd
14. Zeus Agro Ltd
15. Owesia U Ltd

Other health benefits are:

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the non-psychiatric cannabinoids in industrial hemp and is increasingly used as a food supplement and ingredient in beauty  Studies have shown that high doses of CBD are safe without significant side effects and are used to treat a number of diseases and symptoms including;

Anxiety disorders, obesity, epilepsy, dystonia, diabetes, cancer, neurodermatitis and Alzheimer’s  CBD is not separately listed in US federal regulations and controlled in Schedule I but is not restricted in the EU under any legislation  CBD products on the market today include: edibles, oils, tinctures.
While the full business potential of legal cannabis in the health care sector is only now coming into focus, early indicators suggest that the potential is considerable.

The cannabis healthcare sector ranges from over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications to sophisticated biotech treatments for such chronic conditions as epilepsy, diabetes, schizophrenia, Glioblastoma, post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), and Huntington’s disease .
The new cannabis healthcare sector still faces regulatory headwinds though several factors are optimistic for the industry: − Consumer demand for existing medical cannabis products (mainly as a pain reliever) is strong in the states where medical cannabis is now legal − Growing evidence that cannabis can significantly reduce addiction and deaths from opioid painkillers − Federal policy is already shifting:

in August 2016, the US Drug Enforcement Administration relaxed restrictions on where scientists could obtain cannabis for medical cannabis research trials.
The potential of cannabis’s medical properties has drawn interest from mainstream pharmaceutical players − Insys, GW Pharma, Tilray and Zynerba have already begun clinical trials using cannabis − If this early pharmaceutical research is successful and OTC cannabis remedies and treatments begin gaining acceptance among mainstream consumers, medical cannabis will start to attract attention both from big pharmaceuticals as well as national retailers.

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President Yoweri Museveni has received the first two of the four Bombardier CRJ900 regional Aircrafts which were ordered by Uganda National Airlines Company in July 2018.

In 2017, government signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus Company and bombardier to deliver two airbuses (A330-800neo) and four CRJ900 regional jets at a cost of US $800,00M and US $48M respectively.

Speaking at Entebbe International airport, Museveni, said the word Uganda Airlines died and in the African culture when people die, they are buried. “When old people die, new ones are born, so this is the new baby. I’m among the midwives delivering a new baby.”

“I want to thank the ministry people, the board members, young pilots, and the cabinet for helping us sort out all sorts of confusion on whether we should buy new planes or rent,” he said adding that Uganda is moving forward.

He said upon reviving the airline business, he is still dreaming of the East Africa Airlines.

“Uganda is already a medium income country, however, we don’t use the purchasing power parity method, and we use the foreign exchange method. Therefore, by starting an airline, we are going to reduce the foreign exchange expenditure.”

The third jet will be delivered in July 2019 and the fourth plane is expected in September 2019. The commercialization of the airline will start in July to various destinations in Kenya, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Zanzibar.

Established in May 1976, Uganda Airlines was the flag carrier of Uganda, started operations in 1977 and was liquidated in May 2001 after efforts to privatize the company failed.

According to Minister of Works and Transport Eng. Monica Azuba, the revival will promote Uganda’s tourism, trade and enhancing Country’s competitiveness in air transport and easing connectivity to and from Uganda.

She said 12 Ugandan pilots and 12 co-pilots have been trained and certified to operate the airline. The airline will operate in dual-class configuration with 76 economy and 12 first class seats.

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At least 30 lives have been lost and hundreds of families left with no food stuffs, livestock and homes in Busoga North after six hours of heavy rainstorm that ravaged several villages on Tuesday early morning.

In Buyende district, Kidera Sub County alone lost at least 14 lives, according to Budiope West legislator, Robert Musoke, and more that twenty others were still missing by 8:00am when this report was filed.

A heavy storm has struck kidera Sub County in my constituency of Budiope West causing deaths and loss of property. 14 bodies have been so far retrieved from swamps and house wreckage. Around 20 are missing and feared dead.

People have been left homeless and with no food and clothes. Any assistance please is needed immediately,” said the MP.

Emergency teams from Kamuli are on the ground retrieving dead bodies and evacuating the injured persons to Kamuli general hospital to have their lives saved.

Hon Minister of state for Karamoja, Moses Kizige has put the death toll at 34.

The minister who also is the area member of parliament for Bugabula North (Kamuli) said his team had counted 6 dead bodies in his constituency alone and 28 in the neighboring Buyende district.

“Bugabula County North Constituency and Kidera Sub-county in Buyende District have been hit by a storm. So far 6 have been confirmed dead in my constituency, and 28 in Kidera Sub-county, Budiope West. It is tragic,” Kizige posted on social media.

Buyende district LC chairman, Robert Ziribasanga said: “Many families are being evacuated to shelters in local schools. All places have been flooded which means people are even more vulnerable.”

At least 5,000 families have been affected according to local authorities. Rivers and streams have swelled, putting every life at risk.

“We need distribution of food, clothing and toiletries to more than 500 people evacuated to different schools, mosques and churches,” Ziribasanga said.

Rain is continuing to fall in the region and flooding is expected to spread further south where trees and swamps have been destroyed for sugarcane growing.

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A 1.07 million euros (about Shs4 billion) climate change project aimed at building resilience of agriculture landscapes in Eastern Uganda, is set to be launched in June following the completion of preparatory activities.

The project titled: Enhancing resilience of agricultural landscapes and value chains in eastern Uganda – scaling up Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices” will support the adoption of CSA practices and technologies in farmer cooperatives and primary schools.

Seven districts in eastern Uganda are the beneficiaries of the project which also seeks to develop enterprise platforms to enhance productivity, value addition, marketing and integration of CSA principles.

The three- year pilot project (2019 – 2021) is part of the COMESA’s overall European Union supported Global Climate Change Action (GCCA+) programme. Its focus is on mainstreaming climate change in national policies, strategies and development plans of member States; and promoting, supporting, and piloting appropriate adaptation and mitigation projects. Other beneficiary countries are Madagascar, Eswatini, Seychelles and Zimbabwe.

The money has been provided to implement the pilot project in seven districts in Eastern Uganda with the European Union providing the bulk of the funds through COMESA amounting to one million euros. The funds will be managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under a delegation agreement signed with COMESA in July 2018.

In addition, the UNDP will provide €76,271 while the Government of Uganda will contribute in kind through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

The Project Coordinator Mr Stephen Muwaya told stakeholders attending a two -project inception meeting on 16 – 17 April 2019 at Iganga town, Uganda, that procurement and installation of equipment that will be unveiled during the high-level launching ceremony was on course.

The meeting brought together technical officers from the local authorities in the seven target districts of Budaka, Namutumba, Bugiri, Busia, Kaliro, Kamuli, and Buyende. Representatives from community-based organizations and farmers who will be involved in the implementation of the project participated in the meeting which also finalized the projects work plan.

Speaking at the inception meeting, Uganda’s Commissioner of Crop Production and Marketing Mr. Alex Lwakuba, observed that the eastern Uganda sub region was prone to hazards of climate change which aggravated food insecurity.

He urged the delegates: “You should supervise and monitor to ensure that the rural farmers realize the intended impacts of the project at household and farm level.”

The new project will build on the successes of the first phase of the project that was implemented in 2014-2016 under the theme: “Enhancing adoption of climate smart agriculture practices in Uganda’s farming systems”.

Among them is the Bugiri Primary school where over 700 pupils are involved in the school’s CSA model farm. The farm also contributes to the school’s feeding programms and was part of the site visit conducted by the stakeholders.

The UNDP was represented at the meeting and site visit by Mr. Onesimus Muhwezi, Team Leader, Environment, Climate and Disaster Resilience, and COMESA by the Head of Corporate Communications Mr. Mwangi Gakunga.

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A love triangle involving three doctors has led to the arrest of Andrew Ntambi, a Ugandan medic based in the United States, who is currently being held at Kabalagala Police Division in connection with missing Dr. Catherine Agaba.

Sources say Dr. Ntambi was ‘fixed’ into arrest by one Dr. Muhammad Muhammad, reportedly an intern doctor at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala and said to be a boyfriend of missing Dr. Agaba, whose whereabouts, according to police, are unknown.

Sources say Dr. Muhammad reported a case of ‘missing person’ on April 16, 2019 and named Dr. Ntambi as the first suspect.

Police based on the above background to Ntambi was arrested from Kisugu.

Dr. Agaba, a medical officer at the International Hospital Kampala (IHK) went missing on April 13, 2019.

Her whereabouts and any information about her remain scanty.

However, her neighbors in Muyenga say she walked out of her apartment on April 13, 2019 carrying three bags.

Since then she has never been seen again while her known phone numbers remain off.

The police said Thursday it had started investigations into the matter, Vide CRB 447/201

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