Faith Nyasuguta
Rwanda’s bold leap into the global medical cannabis industry is nearing the finish line, with 83 per cent of its flagship off-site infrastructure project in Musanze District now complete, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has confirmed.
The multi-billion initiative, led by King Kong Organics (KKOG) Rwanda, a subsidiary of U.S.-based KKOG Global, is part of the country’s grand strategy to tap into the fast-growing global pharmaceutical sector. It also aims to diversify Rwanda’s economy by creating a new, high-value export product.
So far, over $87,000 has been spent out of the $191,000 allocated for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, reflecting a financial execution rate of 46 per cent. The remaining work mainly involves installing a double-layered security fence, a requirement for meeting international compliance standards.
“The overall progress stands at 83 per cent. The final works include general double-layer fencing. Drainage systems are complete but not yet invoiced,” said RDB Chief Financial Officer Joseph Cedrick Nsengiyumva while updating Parliament.
Initially slated to launch in May 2024, the project’s official rollout was pushed to September due to delays in setting up essential access infrastructure. KKOG Founder and CEO Rene Joseph explained that proper roads and site access were necessary to begin full-scale operations.
The Rwandan government has pledged around $3 million to support the initiative. Meanwhile, KKOG has already invested approximately $10 million, which has gone into purchasing machinery, constructing facilities, acquiring land, paying contractors, and importing genetically modified cannabis seeds.
The facility will focus on producing cannabis oils mainly for export, marking a key step in Rwanda’s effort to enter the competitive medical cannabis market. Officials estimate that each hectare of cannabis could generate up to $10 million in revenue, roughly 30 times more than the $300,000 yield typically seen from flower farming.
Rwanda legalised the use of cannabis for medical purposes in 2021, though recreational use remains strictly prohibited. The cannabis plants, once cultivated, take four to six months to mature. KKOG plans to harvest around 5,000 kilograms of cannabis from each hectare.
On a global scale, the medical cannabis industry is booming. According to Germany-based research firm Statista, the sector was expected to generate $20.24 billion in revenue in 2024, with projected annual growth of 2.1 per cent pushing that figure to about $22.46 billion by 2029.
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