KANUNGU – The Kanungu District Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Gad Ahimbisibwe Rugaju, has ordered the temporary suspension of a contested marijuana cultivation project, following a tense, high-stakes on-site inspection.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The joint operation, carried out by security personnel and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) at the premises in Kameme, Kihihi Sub-county on Monday, August 3, 2026, came amid mounting concerns over the site’s activities.
The teams, led by the RDC, were temporarily denied access to the site amid a clear reluctance to cooperate. The standoff ultimately prompted the security detail to forcefully breach the gate in order to gain lawful entry.
On-site personnel initially refused to speak or respond, and when pressed for operating documents, they allegedly deflected by directing authorities to a “head office” without producing any immediate paperwork.
The investigators uncovered a discrepancy: the site is reportedly linked to SGA Global Agriculture, yet a document eventually produced bore the name of a different entity, Healing Herbs Company Limited by Shares.
Following the discoveries, Deputy RDC Rugaju directed a formal probe to establish the legal and operational relationship between the two firms, as the temporary closure remains in effect pending verification.
He reaffirmed that while the Ugandan government permits the cultivation of marijuana, it does so strictly under a robust legal framework that demands explicit licensing and official gazettement by the relevant authorities.
The Deputy RDC directed the Uganda Revenue Authority to audit the company’s tax compliance, stressing that the operation cannot proceed until authorities fully establish its legality and confirm it upholds Uganda’s regulatory integrity.
“This operation cannot proceed until we establish unequivocally that it is operating within the four corners of the law. We must protect the integrity of our regulatory processes,” RDC Rugaju stated.
The Deputy RDC ordered the immediate temporary closure of the project pending a full verification exercise, while three managers were taken into police custody at Kihihi Police Station to assist with ongoing inquiries.
He further confirmed that the company’s legal representative had formally reached out, making a firm commitment to present all requisite documentation by the close of the following day.
However, as of press time, no official response had emerged from the leadership of the entities involved, leaving critical questions surrounding the project’s legality and ownership unresolved.
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