Uganda Medical Cannabis Cooperative Launched

What the report says

The Uganda Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Cooperative Society (UMCHICS) has been launched to bring together licensed medical cannabis and hemp farmers in Uganda, with an emphasis on compliance, traceability and preventing diversion into illicit markets, according to Nile Post. The group says it aims to help members improve market access, attract investors and operate as a professional body in a sector that remains tightly regulated.

At the launch, cooperative chairperson Justine Kasule Lumumba said farmers’ conduct could affect public confidence in the wider industry, and urged members to be judged by responsible operations as well as production. She also said the cooperative wants to build trust with regulators, investors, Government and other stakeholders while promoting quality and record-keeping.

The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Juma Witonze Kisekka, reminded members that cannabis is still a controlled substance under Uganda’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 2024. Nile Post reported that the law allows licensed cultivation under conditions set by the relevant authorities. Witonze said Government is not seeking to block legitimate business, but to ensure security and compliance across the value chain, including seeds, growing, processing, storage, transport and export.

UMCHICS says it has different membership categories and that compliance will be a central requirement for participation. More broadly, the launch reflects Uganda’s effort to build a regulated cannabis and industrial hemp sector while guarding against misuse and illegal diversion.