Ezrah Kashumbusha
KAMPALA, January 07, 2024 | In a move aimed at regulating narcotics and psychotropic substances, Uganda’s President has assented to the Narcotics and Psychotropic Act 2023, among other bills, announced Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa.
The newly enacted law permits the licensed cultivation and utilization of marijuana and khat solely for medical purposes. Penalties for various offenses related to substance abuse are also outlined in the legislation.
Under the provisions of the law, pharmacists face hefty fines of up to one billion shillings, a ten-year jail term, or both, if found prescribing prohibited drugs. Medical professionals who breach their duties by supplying such substances risk removal from the registry of professionals.
Licensing and permitting for the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are exclusively handled by the Ministry of Health. This restriction emphasizes the law’s focus on medical use, with enforcement overseen by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Of particular concern is the protection of children, with severe penalties, including life imprisonment, awaiting those who intoxicate them with drugs. The law stipulates fines or imprisonment, or both, for medical practitioners or any individual supplying narcotics or psychotropic substances to children without medical necessity.
Farmers engaging in the cultivation of prohibited substances must obtain licenses from the Ministry of Health to avoid facing legal repercussions.
Additionally, the law seeks to curb unjustified searches and arrests by imposing personal liability on authorized persons conducting such actions without reasonable cause.
The law, consisting of 94 clauses, was passed as a bill on August 22, 2023, and assented to on February 6, 2024.
