Reported by Sandra Ainebyoona
The Ministry of Health in Uganda is planning to re-introduce a law against the use of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, following a recent court decision that nullified the 2015 law. The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, stated that the ministry will revise and re-table the law in Parliament.
The Constitutional Court nullified the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 2015, which prohibited the sale and use of several narcotic drugs in the country, because it was passed without the required quorum of one-third. The police through its spokesperson, Fred Enanga, assured the public that they will continue to use the old law of the National Drug Authority that is; National Drug Policy and Authority Act, 1993, to tackle narcotics-related offences. In 2022, a total of 2,797 cases of narcotics were reported, with 4,818 suspects arrested and charged to court, compared to 1,668 cases reported in 2021.
In 2017, the Wakiso Miraa Growers and Dealers Association Limited petitioned against Uganda’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act of 2015, claiming that the law lacked scientific evidence and consultation with stakeholders which the panel of judges agreed and nullified the law citing the lack of quorum when the law was passed.
