Mairungi farmers protest law
Mr Edrisa Kazibwe, a khat farmer attends to his plants at Kirokala village in Butambala Photo by SADAT MBOGO
BUTAMBALA- Khat (mairungi) farmers and dealers are protesting the recently passed Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 2014, which outlaws the growing of the crop, arguing that their views were never sought .
The farmers under their umbrella body, Mairungi Growers and Traders Association, claim the crop is their source of livelihood and banning it will affect their economic well-being. “This (growing mairungi) is our only source of livelihood and government couldn’t have brought this law without seeking our views.
We made independent tests of the plant from recognised laboratories in the country and reports showed that mairungi is not a drug as it is alleged,” Mr Vincent Kizito, the national chairperson , Mairungi Growers and Traders Association, said.
Khat farmers and dealers resolved to file up a case against government challenging the law, saying their views sent through their legislators were never considered.
“Instead of banning the growing, transportation and selling of mairungi, why don’t they first ban harmful substances such as tobacco and crude waragi?” Mr Kizito asked.
“Government should control the use of the crop, but not putting a total ban on it,” he added.
The resolution was made during a meeting of 2,800 mairungi growers and dealers from different regions the country who converged in Kalamba Sub county.
The meeting was organised to review Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 2015.
Sheikh Abdu-Kareem Wadda, the Chief Kadhi - West Buganda, who attended the meeting, said the law will lead to increased poverty, unemployment, theft and starvation. “Mairungi is not bad unless it is mixed with alcohol and marijuana,” he said.
Recent research conducted by Butambala District local government shows that mairungi, is one of the main cash crops in the area, where a farmer earns between Shs2million to 10 millions a month.
According to Dr Simon Ezra Yiga of the Alpha and Omega Medical center in Mpigi, mairungi contains a stimulant which is said to cause excitement and loss of appetite.
The World Health Organisation says khat users can suffer from a range of diseases, including tuberculosis, anemia and impotence.
Khat, is usually linked with Red Sea countries like Somalia or Yemen, but it is now consumed by youth all over Uganda, particularly in urban slums.
A small bundle of about 50 mairungi leaves, weighing under 60 grams, costs Shs 1000. Sellers, normally wrap the mairungi in banana leaves.
Penalty
According to the law, a person in possession of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than five hundred currency points (Shs10m) or three times the market value of the drug or to imprisonment not less than two years ,but not exceeding ten years, or both such fine and imprisonment. .
