Lumumba Warns Medical Cannabis Farmers Against Ignoring Regulatory Responsibilities

What the report says

Justine Kasule Lumumba, Uganda’s Minister of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, has urged farmers in the country’s emerging medical cannabis and industrial hemp sector to treat regulation, traceability and accountability as core obligations. According to Nile Post, she made the remarks while opening the first annual general meeting of the Uganda Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Cooperative Society (UMCHICS), where she also serves as chairperson.

Lumumba said the cooperative is intended to support licensed farmers operating within Uganda’s legal framework, not to promote recreational cannabis use or weaken government oversight. She argued that the sector will depend on clear production standards, record keeping, environmental responsibility and systems that can show where product comes from and how it is handled. She also said public questions about diversion, safeguards and regulation are legitimate in such a sensitive industry.

A central theme of her address was collective responsibility. Lumumba warned that misconduct by one farmer could damage the reputation of other members and undermine confidence in the wider market. She said a licence carries duties, not just permission, and stressed that compliance should become part of the cooperative’s culture.

The report says UMCHICS wants to build governance and transparency as it develops in a sector that remains tightly regulated under Uganda’s narcotics law. More broadly, the message reflects the challenge facing countries that are exploring medical cannabis industries: attracting investment and farmer participation while maintaining strict controls and public trust.