By Aggrey Twesigye
In Ntungamo—-
Residents of Ruhaama county,Ntungamo district were yesterday shocked after NRM flag bearer, Henry Nkwasibwe Zinkuratire referred to his FDC opponent Isaac Nuwagaba as Satan.
Zinkuratiire said this at the burial of the wife to the former UPC fallen hero, Adonia Zoreka – Constance Zoreka of Rwenanuura – Kakukuru town Council in Ruhaama County, Ntungamo district.
Zinkuratiire who had turned burial into a political campaign alleged that Nuwagaba tried to terminate his nomination over academic documents.
Henry Zinkuratiire and Isaac Nuwagaba have been at loggerheads over alleged forgery by Zinkuratiire.
“Isaac Nuwagaba is still on my neck .He is still posting on social media that I do not have qualifications but kindly request you to vote me with a block vote,”Zinkuratiire said
However, Isaac Nuwagaba was not allowed to say anything regarding what Zinkuratire branded him, which overshadowed mourners.
Speaking to www.mknewslink.com after the burial, Nuwagaba said it is true he pushed for the termination of Zinkuratire’s nomination because he was not qualified to stand as a Member of Parliament because of his documents.
It is alleged that Zinkuratiire finished S.4 in 2018 and also attained mature entry certificate at Makerere University in 2019.
Zinkuratiire and Nuwagaba are contesting for Ruhaama county MP seat with Independent Gad Kamaradi, ANT Gerald Mucureezi Karakore.
www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106
By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante
In Bushenyi—
The Member of Parliament Elect for Older persons in Western Uganda Canon Joram Tibasiimwa Ruranga has revealed that the first thing when he reaches parliament is to lobby government to increase social grant of older persons from 25000 to 100,000 shillings per month.
He added that he also wants to reduce the age of beneficiaries from 80 to 60 years.
He said this in an exclusive interview with www.mknewslink.com managing editor at Friends hotel along liberation road in Bushenyi town.
Tibasiimwa who appeared extremely happy was discussing issues relating to his God given opportunity of going through unopposed.
He said he wants to lobby health insurance for 1.7 older persons which he thinks will help the needy elderly to live health and longer.
Tubasiimwa tussled it out with a retired bishop from Kasese in NRM primaries and defeated him.
Tibasiimwa is currently the national chairman of Older persons in Uganda and he has achieved great things including regional 5 MPs to represent older person in parliament.
He also lobbied government to get the social grant of 75000 quarterly for all older persons of 80 years and above in the whole country.
www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106
By Kenneth Twinamatsiko
In Bushenyi
Bushenyi district yesterday confirmed its 10th COVID19 case from Kyamuhunga Sub County.
According to Dr. Eliab Tayebwa the Assistant District Health Officer Bushenyi, the 50 year old male came from Rubirizi district not feeling well, the health team decided to isolate him and took his samples which turned out to be positive of COVID19 yesterday.
Dr. Tayebwa said that coronavirus is manageable only that people miss behave by not following Standard Operating Procedures urging all people to be extra careful and follow the directives from the ministry of health.
He added that Bushenyi recorded its first case on 7th August 2020 and registered its 10th case yesterday 29th Oct.2020.
He revealed that one of the patients is at Mbarara Referral Hospital, another one is being treated in Bushenyi, two others are being managed from their homes while six were discharged and are very OK.
www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106
By Yosam Gucwaki
In Bunyoro
Musicians from Bunyoro Sub Region under their umbrella association of Bunyoro performing artists (abupa) have been warned against living an extravagant life if they are to move from one level to another.
The warning was sounded by Julius Kyomuhendo, the association’s president during the Bunyoro artists’ meeting which was held at Alinda Guest House in Masindi town.
The meeting was aimed at getting ideas from Masindi musicians on how they can improve the welfare of the musicians in the region.
In april this year, bunyoro’s artists started an association after realizing that they were missing many opportunities due to lack of unity amongst them. The association brings together musicians, comedians, producers, actors, dancers among others from the districts of hoima, masindi, kakumiro, bulisa, kiryandongo,kibaale, kikuube and kagadi.
Speaking to the musicians, kyomuhendo noted that sometimes musicians make money but they live a reckless life something which has deterred them from changing their lives.
He also explained that the association will help poor musicians in Bunyoro to come up with quality music by getting them good cameras, promote their music and also provide them with legal protection against exploitation.
He added that they are aiming at promoting the music industry such that it can be more enjoyable and profitable. He also noted that they are going to start organizing the Bunyroro festival where all Bunyoro artists will be given an opportunity to perform saying that the festival will be organized annually.
David king kalisa, from Igme family who is also the treasurer explained that they have not started the association for political reasons but to organize themselves on how to improve their industry and also benefit from government.
He added that they also have a vision of starting their own SACCO where musicians will be saving their money.
David warned fellows to improve on their characters and avoid wrangles which will negatively cost their lives.
www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106
By Our Reporter
Heliochem Pty Ltd, an Australian based firm has partnered with Medcan Uganda Ltd to grow medical cannabis (marijuana) in Uganda, Business Focus exclusively reports.
Heliochem is a subsidiary of THC Global Group Limited (ASX: THC), an ASX listed company, operating in the Health Care sector. It has been in business for over 15 years.
The company’s current focus is on the medical cannabis industry wherein it makes and delivers high-quality cannabis products to Australian patients.
Medical cannabis is a term used to describe the use of the cannabis plant and its constituent cannabinoids to alleviate symptoms and help people struggling with medical conditions.
Across the globe, cannabis is one of the most exciting growth industries and is garnering significant attention from investors, manufacturers and researchers.
Heliochem has already applied to Ministry of Health and other relevant bodies for a license to grow medical cannabis in Uganda.
According to a letter dated May13, 2019 to Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng and received the following day, Heliochem says establishing a medical cannabis industry in Uganda will undoubtedly generate numerous benefits and opportunities for the people of Uganda.
This site has also seen a letter to the Minister of Health by Stephen Miller, a Director at Heliochem Pty Ltd informing her that Medcan Uganda Ltd is authorized to act on its behalf in Uganda on matters relating to medical cannabis.
“Helicochem is set to commence operations in Lesotho and seeks to expand its operations through application for medical cannabis licenses in preferred environmental conditions of Uganda,” the leaked application letter reads in part.
The company that was founded by Nicholas Fiori wants to be a market leader in the cultivation and manufacturing of medical cannabis not only in Uganda, but on the African continent.
Business Focus understands that the company has already acquired 50 acres of land in Amuru district for this purpose. It intends to grow the medicinal weed both indoor/green houses and outdoor.
“At its core, the cannabis industry is an agricultural product which requires skilled farmers and master growers to produce cannabis crops on a large scale to a medical grade quality,” the letter further reads.
It adds that this presents an opportunity for jobs to be created in the agriculture sector by re-skilling farmers and generating further employment opportunities which are specific to the medical cannabis industry.
According to the application letter, Heliochem intends to invest in Uganda US$50-US$100m (Shs188.6bn to Shs377.3bn), but will invest about US$10m (Shs37.7bn) initially (in the first year).
The company will employ about 200 people and each will earn US$50-US$150 (Shs188,654 to Shs565,964) per day based on skill and position.
Heliochem has licenses to export medical cannabis to Germany, USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia.
Firms Scramble
It is understood that the number of international firms seeking to grow marijuana in Uganda to cash in on the growing multi-billion dollar business are growing every passing day.
This site understands that a number of local firms are also willing to venture into the lucrative weed.
Recently Daily Monitor reported that it had seen a Cabinet information paper by the Ministry of Health indicating that “the minister of Health has received applications from 14 companies interested in the cultivation, extraction and export of cannabis oil for medical purposes in line with the provisions of Narcotic Drug and Pyschotropic Substances (Control) Act 2015”.
The 14 are besides an already established firm, Industrial Hemp Uganda Ltd and its partners, which have been in the country for the past decade with operations in Kasese and other areas.
However, sources say about 26 companies have applied to grow marijuana in Uganda as of today.
“There is a big economic value potential for the country considering the rate at which countries are opening up their markets for the sale of cannabis products for medical purposes,” the Ministry of Health notes in the brief to Cabinet.
In the Cabinet document, the minister lists the benefits to include employment opportunities, taxes, technology transfer, investment opportunities, and trade surplus, among others.
For example, the paper notes, cannabis farming is labour intensive, all plant care and harvesting are done by hand, providing employment opportunities.
The Health ministry, however, warns that there is reasonable fear that legal cultivation of medical cannabis could lead to increase of the product, which will lead to escalation of cannabis abuse and associated consequences.
“The risks associated or resulting from the legal cultivation of cannabis are mitigated by the fact that cannabis is a highly controlled plant globally, regulations are overly strict, which ensures maximum adherence,” she adds.
In the Cabinet paper, it is proposed that the Minister of Health will issue written consent for the cultivation of prohibited plants, NDA will issue production and export licences and both the police and NDA will conduct inspection and enforcement of the law.
“As much as the area of cannabis cultivation and extraction on an industrial scale is new in Uganda, stringent measures are in place to regulate it. These projects will create jobs, bring in foreign currency, and above all there is no imminent threat to the people of Uganda or the environment if the measures put in place are adhered to,” the Health Ministry memo to Cabinet concludes.
The law
Section 14 Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substance (control) Act, 2019, which commenced on January16, 2019, empowers the National Drug Authority (NDA) to issue licences for export, import, manufacture, etc.
(a) issue licences, for sale, manufacture, production or distribution of specified narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances;
(b) prescribe the manner in which a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance is to be packed or marked for export;
(c) prescribe the records to be kept for the export, import, receipt, sale, disposal or distribution of a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance; and
(d) determine the line of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances which may be supplied and prescribed for medical, dental and veterinary purposes and prescriptions.
Section 4 of the Act criminalises possession of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and provides sanctions, including lengthy prison sentences and fines.
Exceptions
The
exception is in Subsection (3) “(a) a person who has possession of a
narcotic drug or psychotropic substance under a licence issued under Section 27
of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act, permitting him or her to have
possession of the narcotic drug or psychotropic substance;
(b) a medical practitioner, dentist, veterinary surgeon or registered
pharmacist who is in possession of a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance
for any medical purpose;
(c) a person who possesses a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance for a
medical purpose from, or using a prescription of, a medical practitioner,
dentist or veterinary surgeon; or
(d) a person authorized under regulations made under this Act to be in
possession of a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
Countries legally growing marijuana
Countries such as Uruguay, Canada, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, some states in the United States, Germany and many other countries in the European Union have legalized cannabis for medical use.
In Lesotho, for example, Cannabis is widely produced and is a leading cash crop for the country. In 2017, Lesotho became the first African country to grant a license for the cultivation of medical cannabis for export. Currently, the UK is the largest exporter of medical cannabis in the world. According to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), 95 tones of cannabis was produced in the UK for medicinal and scientific use, accounting for 44.9 per cent of the world total
In Europe, it is grown in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Britain, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain and Ukraine.
www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106