Is Weed Legal in Uganda?

Recreational marijuana is illegal in Uganda. Cannabis is controlled under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 2016 and the Industrial Hemp Regulations 2020 (Statutory Instrument No 41 of 2020). The Uganda Police Force Anti-Narcotics Unit and the National Drug Authority enforce drug control, with prosecutions handled by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Possession, cultivation for non-licensed purposes, sale, and trafficking are criminal offenses under Section 4 of the 2016 Act, with sentences ranging from substantial fines to life imprisonment for trafficking. Uganda nonetheless operates one of Africa's largest licensed medical cannabis cultivation-for-export sectors, with companies including Together Pharma (Israel-linked) and Industrial Globus Uganda Ltd holding cultivation licenses for export to Germany, Israel, and other regulated markets. The domestic recreational market remains fully criminalised, and the apparent contradiction is resolved by the licensed export-only structure.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.