Drug traffickers to be sentenced to life

By Joyce Namutebi

Traffickers of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are to face life imprisonment if a Bill which is under consideration by the parliamentary defence committee is passed.

The Bill states that any person who traffics narcotic drugs or psychotropic substance represented or held by him or her to be such, commits an offence and is liable to a fine not less than sh10m or three times the market value of the drug or substance, whichever is greater, in addition to life imprisonment.

Under the same Bill, growing of Catha edulis (mairungi), cannabis (marijuana), coca bush, opium poppy and paper setigerum is prohibited.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill, 2007 was re-tabled in Parliament by internal affairs state minister James Baba recently.

Possession of a narcotic drug of psychotropic substance is also an offence and offenders are liable on conviction to a fine not less than sh10m or three times the market value of the drug or to imprisonment not less than two years, but not exceeding 10 years or both fine and imprisonment.

The Bill lists hundreds of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances which are prohibited. Sniffing, chewing and inhaling and storing these drugs is also prohibited.

The Bill comes amid allegations that some Members of Parliament are involved in the trade. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Milton Muwuma, the defence committee chairperson, invited members of the public who have proposals or issues with the Bill to approach the committee.

The MPs also said Speaker Rebecca Kadaga had authorised them to work during recess.
Drug traffickers to get life