The Parliament Speaker Rt Hon Anita Among has directed Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, to introduce the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Hon Among arrived at the decision following a back-and-forth discussion with Kiwanuka who pleaded to let the government first introduce the Bill based on their own interests.
Earlier Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament Hon Asuman Basalirwa and his Aruu County counterpart Hon Christopher Komakech were initially seeking leave from the House to introduce the law.
However, the two did not stand chance after Kiryowa Kiwanuka requested the Speaker that the Bill be introduced by government and not as a private members bill saying that they would be working backwards in case the Bill is fronted by a private member.
Kiryowa Kiwanuka however said that in the meantime, any cases of drugs are being handled under the existing law and there is no gap to have a new law at this point other than the issue of the extent of the penalties.
” I beg your indulgence Madam Speaker, to allow the Minister of Internal Affairs continue working on having this Bill re-introduced at the appropriate time,” AG Kiryowa Kiwanuka said.
However, Speaker Among directed that this bill is needed as soon as possible and therefore the Attorney General should introduce it.
