The Former Bush war Gen Kahinda Otafiire has clarified about the truth about Njeru medicinal cannabis project.
The President of Uganda assented to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 2023. The law provides a regulatory framework under which the cultivation of prohibited plants, including cannabis, may be licensed for lawful purposes.
This legislation followed the Constitutional Court’s nullification of the previous 2015 Act on procedural grounds relating to the absence of the required parliamentary quorum.
Cannabis has increasingly attracted international scientific and medical interest, particularly following its reclassification under the international drug-control framework. Research has examined the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in areas including pain management, certain forms of epilepsy, nausea associated with chemotherapy, and other medical applications.
Uganda’s legal framework consequently provides mechanisms through which appropriately licensed entities may undertake activities involving cannabis for authorised purposes, subject to the applicable regulatory requirements.
Since then, numerous individuals and companies have sought permits or licences to undertake experimental or medicinal cannabis-related activities in Uganda.
Among the entities identified as having sought or obtained such authorisation are:
Ham Motors & Property Services, Cannabis Pharma Limited, Magsgreen Acres, CTI Agri Uganda Limited, Hoima Energy Limited, Cabbisi Limited, Divine Mercy Farmers Association, Seven Blades, Western Highlands Natural Medicines (U) Limited, SMK Organic Herbals Limited, Ngabu Agro Limited, Prime Ranchers Ltd, Isengoma Ventures Limited, Aicerit Investment Limited, West Hood Global Co. Limited, Barinabo Farm Limited, Blue Whale Logistics (U) Limited, Sbof Africa Limited, Cannagro International Limited, Horizon Manpower Limited, CILA Wellness Africa, Stone Establishment Limited, KRK Western Pharmaceuticals (U) Ltd, Charom Ventures Limited, Penash Ventures Ltd, Maisha Roots Co. Ltd, Ssebo International Group (U) Limited, Bright Sparks Farm Ltd, Mercantile Energies Limited, J & K Company Limited, Wild Green Leaf Growers Limited, Premier Hemp Limited, World Medical Advisors LLC, Bagume Ventures Limited, Yolk Mixed Farm Limited, Moskats Investments Limited, Prime Placement Agency Ltd, Salaama Musumba Foundation, Panorama Pross Ltd, Anglo Afrikan Safaris, WGI Technical, Busowobi Investments Limited, Miles Funeral Services Ltd, B.K. Monarch Commodities Limited, Al-Shoush Consultants Ltd, Shafa & Samba Enterprises Ltd, Kenworth (U) Ltd, Leya Vet Pharmacy Limited, Harbour Speed (U) Ltd, Bemk Investments Co. Ltd and Healing Hemp Ltd, among others.
The Njeru Project
M/s Barinabo Farm Limited applied for and was granted permission to undertake medicinal cannabis cultivation on a trial or experimental basis. Like several other entities mentioned above, the company sought authorisation to cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Under its application, the proposed experimental sites included Kiryandongo and Njeru.
I am informed that Barinabo Farm Limited entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with M/s Industrial Hemp Uganda (IHU) and Industrial Hemp Pharmaceuticals (IHP) in connection with the project.
Industrial Hemp Pharmaceuticals operates a production facility at Komamboga, Kampala, which, I am informed, has previously been inspected by government officials seeking to understand the medicinal cannabis sector and has engaged with the National Drug Authority regarding its products and operations.
Who Owns The Land?
This is where some of the media reporting has fundamentally misrepresented the facts.
The cannabis plantation in Njeru is situated on Block 205, Plot 279. That land is held and owned by Kampala-based lawyer Counsel Faizal Wesige.
The plot formed part of the former Plot 3, Bukaya, Njeru, previously owned by Christopher Lule.
It is not Plot 280 or Plot 283, Bukaya, Njeru, which are the plots that I, Kahinda Otafiire, own.
That distinction is neither complicated nor difficult to verify.
The Memorandum of Understanding, as I am reliably informed, provides for Industrial Hemp Pharmaceuticals to off-take cannabis cultivated at the farm as part of its research activities and utilise it in connection with its authorised product-development activities.
I am further informed that the company has developed products including Cancare, Cancure, Digest Pro, Natural Balance, Cannabis Tea and CBD Skin Cream.
Cannabis and cannabinoid-based products continue to be studied internationally for various potential therapeutic applications. Any claims regarding the treatment of specific diseases must, of course, be understood within the applicable scientific, medical and regulatory framework.
CANNABIS, RESEARCH AND AGRICULTURE
Cannabis has also been the subject of research into potential veterinary and agricultural applications. Farmers and researchers have explored its possible use in animal husbandry, nutrition and other agricultural applications.
It is therefore unfortunate that, rather than first establishing the facts and examining whether legitimate research or agricultural opportunities existed at the site, the relevant authorities proceeded in a manner that resulted in the destruction of property and disruption of the project.
Since the passage of the legislation, I have personally sought to educate myself about the properties of cannabis and cannabinoids, including the human body’s CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors and their role within the endocannabinoid system.
The medicinal potential of cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds is a legitimate subject of scientific research. That is precisely why such activities should be approached through proper regulation, scientific scrutiny and responsible licensing rather than misinformation or sensationalism.
The action taken at Njeru
The actions undertaken by the army, reportedly on the instructions of Hon. Bright Rwamirama and others, are regrettable, particularly because of the damage allegedly caused to the facility and the consequential effect on Industrial Hemp Pharmaceuticals, which was intended to off-take the crop.
As for the soldiers who were arrested, they had nothing to do with me in relation to the cannabis project.
The soldiers deployed in that sector have responsibilities relating to the security of strategic national assets in the area, including air-defence installations, the dam and the bridge.
I had merely allowed servicemen to grow ordinary agricultural produce on my land so that they could supplement their incomes. I consider that the bare minimum I can offer servicemen, particularly as a retired senior officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and a retired General of the Original High Command of FRONASA/NRA.
The Consequences
The destruction of property and disruption of commercial operations may expose the responsible parties to claims for damages and loss of income by the investing entities.
I understand that foreign investors are involved in the venture and that considerable capital expenditure has already been incurred, together with commercial off-take obligations.
These are matters that the relevant government authorities and the Attorney General’s office may ultimately have to address.
In their zeal to hurt Otafiire, they have trespassed upon and damaged property reportedly worth millions of dollars which has absolutely nothing to do with me.
Had the Ministry of Agriculture and NAGRIC undertaken proper verification and established the ownership of the land and the nature of the venture before acting, they would have discovered these facts.
Instead, they appear to have acted like bulls in a china shop – causing damage before properly ascertaining the facts surrounding the venture.
The facts speak for themselves
The inadequate research and investigation into the actual ownership of the land at Njeru, coupled with the repeated assertion that I, Kahinda Otafiire, grabbed stock-farm land, is now becoming increasingly apparent for what it is.
Any objective observer or critical reader can examine the facts and determine whether the reporting and allegations made against me withstand scrutiny.
The land on which the cannabis was cultivated is not mine.
The company undertaking the project is not mine. The existence of a medicinal cannabis project does not, by itself, establish unlawful conduct. Those making allegations against me have an obligation to establish the facts before presenting speculation as truth.
Now, who is fooling whom?
Continue miscalculating. I will not be here.
Thank you for taking the time to read this statement.
MAJ. GEN. KAHINDA OTAFIIRE (RTD)
RO 00014
