By Jeff Lule

THE Police in Wakiso district have destroyed four marijuana plantations belonging to three residents of Magogo village in Kakiri sub-county.

The plantations were discovered in different locations during a Police operation to curb trade in the narcotic plant last week.

The officer in charge of Kakiiri Police post, James Kawalya, explained that the operation was carried out because of the increasing crime rate in the region.

“Many people attributed the crimes to marijuana smokers and dealers. We decided to carry out an operation to get the culprits,” Kawalya, who headed the operation, said.

He noted that the plantations were mixed with other crops like cassava, maize and sugarcane, making it difficult to identify the crop.

Kawalya said they suspect ed the plantations were major sources of marijuana sold in Kampala and other parts of the country.

Three owners of the plantations identified as Kalori Ndimuku, 74, Margaret Namukwaya, 20, and Samuel Mwesigwa, 35, were arrested from their homes.

Each suspect was found with a sack of marijuana, which they had hidden in their houses.
Kawalya said the suspects would be charged with cultivation of an illegal crop and possession of an illegal drug.

The suspects confessed being the owners of the plantations, but said the crop was their source of income and medicine for their animals and fowl.

“I use it as tea leaves to cure my cancer and it is my source of income to cater for my family,” Ndimuku said.
Namukwaya and Mwesigwa said they used it to treat their animals and fowl at home.

Kawalya said more operations would be carried out in the area. The suspects were detained at Kakiri Police post.
The destroyed marijuana was estimated at sh5 m.