MPs, scientists to study miraa

Nov 25, 2013

The Parliamentary committee on defence is to engage scientists to analyse miraa (mairungi) before taking a stand on banning its growing, the chairperson Benny Namugwanya has said.

By Joyce Namutebi
               
The Parliamentary committee on defence is to engage scientists to analyse miraa (mairungi) before taking a stand on banning its growing, the chairperson Benny Namugwanya has said.

The scientists, she said, would examine the drug content in mairungi, a popular plant grown in certain parts of the country and chewed by some people in Kampala and other areas.

Government in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill, 2007, which being scrutinized by the committee, prohibited growing of mairungi. Also prohibited is Cannabis, coca bush, opium poppy and paper setigerum.

Under the bill, traffickers in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are to suffer life imprisonment if the Bill is passed.

Namugwanya said that the committee is going to prioritise handling of the Bill to enable the respective arms of government do their role.

"As a committee we find that there is a lot of concern in the public about drug abuse and trafficking. There is also a concern from police that there is no enabling law to apprehend such people," she said.

The committee, she said, would soon start conducting public hearings on the Bill and visiting marijuana growers in Butambala, Buikwe and some parts of Wakiso to interface with them and get their views on the Bill.

She also noted that there is need to expedite the Bill because many young people are getting initiated into taking the narcotic drugs and other substances, which may lead to school dropouts and mental illnesses.

The Bill, which has been in Parliament since 2007 was retabled by internal affairs state minister, James Baba.

The Bill states that any person who traffics in a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance represented  of 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, and in addition to imprisonment for life.

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.

However, the law will not apply to persons who get the drugs and substances under a license issued under section 28 of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act, permitting him or her to have possession of the drug or substance. It will also not apply to a medical practitioner, dentist, veterinary surgeon or registered pharmacist who is in possession of the drugs or substances for any medical purpose, among others.

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

"A court which convicts any person of an offence under this Act, shall direct the Inspector general of Police or any police officer authorized by the IGP, to destroy all the prohibited plants found on any land to which the offence relates"
 

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