KAMPALA, UGANDA – The senior leadership of Butabika Hospital has warned MPs against legalizing the use of khat and cannabis in Uganda.
In a presentation to the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs, which is currently processing the Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Bill 2023, the hospital’s executive director, Dr. Juliet Nakku, said that these substances have a detrimental effect on Ugandans, especially the youth.
“The amounts required to reach euphoria tend to increase with repeated use,” Nakku warned. “This is called tolerance, and it means that people start to need a higher amount of a particular substance to get the same effect that they got.”
Nakku’s proposal comes after the Constitutional Court nullified the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act early this year on grounds of quorum.
The hospital’s leadership is concerned that if khat and cannabis are legalized, they will be more easily accessible to young people, who are more likely to abuse them. They also worry that legalization will lead to an increase in crime and violence.
The Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs is expected to make a recommendation on the Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Bill 2023 to the full Parliament in the coming weeks.
In addition to the concerns raised by Butabika Hospital, there are a number of other reasons why khat and cannabis should not be legalized in Uganda.
- Khat is a stimulant that can cause anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis.
- Cannabis can impair judgment and coordination, and it can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
- Both khat and cannabis can be addictive.
Legalizing khat and cannabis would send the wrong message to young people, and it would make it more difficult to protect them from the harmful effects of these substances.
The Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs should reject the proposal to legalize khat and cannabis.
