(TAN): A 200-acre marijuana farm was uncovered last week in Uganda’s second largest national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, in the western part of the country, reported the Observer. The incident is seen by many as a desperate attempt to earn a livelihood as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to batter the economy of Uganda, a major share of which comes from tourism.
Two of the suspects Duncan Kambaho, 25, and Isaac Kule, 24, were arrested right inside the farm in the park while others were picked from Rwembyo village and in Kiburara town council of Kisinga sub-county, according to media reports.
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The District Police Commander (DPC) of Katwe, Tyson Rutambika, said there have been complaints from neighbouring districts that a lot of marijuana from the neighbouring Kasese district area has been ending up in their area. The local community has been counselled a number of times by the administration to abandon the practice, but was of little use, he added. Some local residents were reportedly aware about the suspects intercropping marijuana with other crops in their gardens.
Although marijuana remains legally banned in Uganda pending legislation, several international firms have applied to the Ministry of Health for licenses to export it. As per media reports, 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 health minister Jane Ruth Aceng, the cabinet has yet to progress to the stage of discussing a policy to authorize not only the medicinal use but recreational use of marijuana.
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Many destinations around the world however are on a quest to tap into “marijuana tourism”. In a recent article by eTN reported that the pandemic-ravaged Seychelles economy is looking for this “untapped market” of marijuana tourism with many tourists flocking to places considered “weed friendly.” As for example, Colorado has reportedly seen increases in tourism spending year over year since legalization of recreational Marijuana in 2012 and continues to see massive increases in consumer spending as well.
