A combined team of two Uganda police divisions busted a 200-acre marijuana farm last week located in Uganda’s second largest national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, in western Uganda. The operation on arguably the largest farm of the illegal crop in Uganda to date was commanded by their Divisional Police Commanders from Katwe and Bwera backed by operatives of the state intelligence services (ISO).
Two of the suspects were arrested right inside the farm in the Queen Elizabeth National Park: Duncan Kambaho (25 years), and Isaac Kule (24 years), while others were picked from Rwembyo village and in Kiburara town council of Kisinga sub-county.
The District Police Commander (DPC) of Katwe, Tyson Rutambika, said there have been complaints from neighboring districts indicating that a lot of marijuana from the neighboring Kasese district area has been ending up in their area.
He said there has been a series of meetings to encourage the community to abandon the practice, but some remained adamant. Masereka, a local resident, said they woke up to the police force combing their area on Friday of 6th November 2020 morning. He said they knew some of the suspects were intercropping marijuana with other crops in their gardens.
Although marijuana remains legally banned in Uganda pending legislation, several international firms have applied to the Uganda Ministry of Health for licenses to export it. An Israeli firm, Pharma Ltd., has already secured land to grow and export cannabis oil after securing a deal from a Canadian firm.
According to the Uganda Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Uganda Cabinet has yet to progress to the stage of discussing a policy to authorize not only the medicinal use but recreational use of the substance.
In a related news, it was stated that Seychelles is on a quest to tap into marijuana tourism saying that “marijuana tourism is an untapped market for Seychelles with many tourists flocking to destinations considered to be ‘weed friendly.’”
With the COVID-19 pandemic, many communities have resorted to desperate measures for survival including poaching, the most shocking being the killing of Rafiki, the alpha male silverback mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The marijuana growing in the Uganda national park(s), therefore, comes as no surprise.
SOURCE: ETURBO NEWS
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Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport is reopen for international flights as of 01 October 2020. Queen Elizabeth National Park plus other 9 Uganda National parks are have also reopened following guidelines. It is important to note that for many rural communities in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania and rest of Africa, tourism means opportunity. Tourism provides jobs and economic empowerment in Uganda, including for women and youth in Uganda. Tourism gives rural communities in Uganda the ability to protect and promote their natural surroundings, as well as their culture and heritage. In doing so, it allows tourists to enjoy unique experiences.
Any trips you plan to take in Uganda in 2021? Get in touch with Responsible Tourism Co team of local tour consultant to plan your visit and enjoy unique experiences in East Africa.
