Minister Aceng denies licencing marijuana firms secretly

Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has dismissed reports that she secretly issued licences to some companies to grow and export marijuana for medical purposes.

“I have seen social media posts alleging that I am in trouble over Cannabis and others saying I am dealing in cannabis. It’s unfortunate that some people always choose to circulate wrong information,” Dr Aceng said on Sunday via her Twitter handle. “I have not issued any authorisation for cannabis growing in Uganda. Cabinet is yet to consider the feasibility of this. Until then, I request the population to ignore the wrong media posts and treat it baseless and malicious.”

Dr Diana Atwine, the ministry’s permanent secretary, corroborated Dr Aceng’s stand in an interview with NTV Uganda on Sunday.



“They [Cabinet] discussed it. It was not resolved and they set up a sub-committee of Cabinet which made a report. It [report] is yet to be discussed in Cabinet and once that is done, we shall know what to do,” Dr Atwine said.

Since last year, there has been a scramble for cannabis growing in Uganda. By April, about 20 companies had expressed interest in the business.

Dr Aceng, said in April that she was stuck with 20 bids from companies and individuals competing to secure government clearance to grow and export marijuana.



SOURCE: Daily Monitor