Rwanda: A New License Revives the Country's Ambitions in Medical Cannabis

The Rwanda continues to build out its supply chain for medical marijuana, five years after opening the way for the cultivation and export of cannabis for medical purposes.

A concession still shrouded in uncertainty

On July 24, 2026, the Rwandan government approved a concession agreement with InipasvalleyRw Ltd for the project named High-Value Medicinal Crops. The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Paul Kagame.

The project is drawing attention from the cannabis industry because Rwanda is already using the concept of high-value-added therapeutic crops as part of its investment strategy. However, there is no official confirmation at this stage to confirm that the concession involves the production of medical cannabis.

The New Times, who requested the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) On this point, no clarification has been provided. This caution is important: other plants used for pharmaceutical purposes could also fall into this category (Artemisia, Moringa, etc.).

A regulatory framework established since 2021

Rwanda does, however, have specific regulations in place to develop a medical cannabis supply chain for export. Since 2021, the country has allowed the cultivation, processing, and export of cannabis for medical and therapeutic purposes, while maintaining the ban on recreational use.

The system is based on several categories of licenses covering, in particular, cultivation, import, export, processing, product registration, and research. Farms must also comply with significant security requirements, including a double-fencing system and a security plan approved by the authorities.

The first company to obtain a five-year license under this program was King Kong Organics (KKOG Rwanda). The company operates a five-hectare site in the Musanze district and announced several million dollars in investments in its infrastructure.

However, the development of this sector continues to face challenges. According to The New Times, the KKOG project reportedly slowed down due to funding difficulties and disagreements with the RDB.

In addition to private-sector projects, Kigali is also allocating significant resources to the infrastructure needed for this new industry. In 2024–2025, infrastructure spending in the sector exceeded the initial budget, while a budget of 8.2 billion Rwandan francs (5 million euros) was planned for the following fiscal year.

In addition, approximately 134 hectares have been identified for licensed cultivation. While the area under cultivation remains relatively limited, this approach is consistent with a strategy focused on quality control and high-value-added production.

With a specific regulatory framework, a digital government, and an export-oriented policy, the Rwanda is attempting to position itself as a specialized production hub in East Africa, following the example of its counterparts in the South such as Lesotho.