Uganda’s efforts to tackle future threats of desert locusts and other migratory crop pests that threaten food security and livelihoods have been boosted with an assortment of preparedness and response tools from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The donation, which includes surveillance kits and transport equipment, was handed over to Honourable Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), on Tuesday, 9 November by the FAO Representative in Uganda, Antonio Querido. The donated items include 106 surveillance kits (mobile phones and solar chargers), two heavy-duty flatbed trucks for transporting equipment and pesticides, four motorbikes, one heavy-duty pick-up truck to support control operations and one station wagon to facilitate movement of staff during surveillance and control operations.

This donation is in addition to an assortment of seven vehicles, 250specialized personal protective equipment for the use of pesticides (overalls, gloves, boots and safety goggles), 236 surveillance kits (mobile phones and solar-powered charging systems), two mobile storage facilities for the safe and secure storage of pesticides, four vehicle-mounted sprayers, 50 ULV spray pumps, camping equipment including 200 camping tents, 600 sleeping mattresses and bags, 200 rechargeable waterproof lanterns, and 47 000 litres of pesticides and an aerial pesticides applicator pump, which FAO donated to MAAIF in October 2020 and March 2021.

Speaking during Tuesday’s handover ceremony held at MAAIF Headquarters in Entebbe, Querido recognized Uganda’s efforts to control desert locusts, emphasising the Government’s strategic leadership, timely response, mobilization of staff and resources to address the desert locust situation from the onset.

“The Government of Uganda’s timely response was able to avert widespread destruction of crops and pastures,” he said.

“FAO considers the fight against the rapid spread of desert locusts in East Africa one of its top priorities. We can and must protect vulnerable people from the impact of the ongoing multiple crises including conflicts, climate extremes, desert locusts and COVID-19, which threaten to cause a further dramatic deterioration in their food security,” Querido added.

Honourable Tumwebaze thanked FAO for its continued support towards the Government of Uganda’s response to the destructive pest by mobilising other partners to support the response. He also commended the Government of Japan, through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for responding to the Government of Uganda’s call to support the Desert Locust Response. JICA handed over two heavy-duty personnel carrier trucks during the same event, which is in addition to 22 motorbikes handed over in March 2021.

“Even if we do not get a locust invasion soon, this equipment will help us to tackle other crop pests and manage disease control better,” he said. Honourable Tumwebaze urged the recipients of the motorbikes to use them for agricultural extension to rural communities, keeping in mind that their work is done in public trust and should improve service delivery in the sector.

The Honourable Minister also revealed that the Government of Uganda, through MAAIF, has developed the Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy through which the country will adopt a value chain approach for every commodity or enterprise.

FAO has made a tremendous contribution towards Uganda’s preparedness and response to desert locusts invasions through financial contributions from several partners, namely: the Government of the Russian Federation; the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany; the European Union; the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; the Mastercard Foundation; the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Government of Canada; the Swiss Federal Council; the Government of the People’s Republic of China; and, USAID.

In Uganda, the desert locusts were last reported on 12 September 2020 having entered through the Kenya– Uganda border.

Since the 2020 desert locust invasion, FAO has supported the Government of Uganda and communities affected by desert locust invasions, notably:

• 47 000 litres of pesticides. 470 individuals trained (376males, 94females) in different aspects of response including surveillance, monitoring, reporting and of the desert locust threat. As a result, Uganda is better prepared to respond to future desert locust invasions.
• FAO undertook cattle vaccination in the Karamoja sub-region and the surrounding districts against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), under the Desert Locust Control Framework. 130 000 FMD vaccine doses were procured to support the vaccination of 126 659 cattle in the Karamoja sub-region and neighbouring districts to respond to an FMD outbreak.
• FAO supported 10 500 households with farming re-engagement packages across Karamoja and Teso sub-regions. These packages include assorted vegetables and cereal high-quality seeds that will be distributed to the identified household. Relatedly, FAO has rolled out a package (haybales, mineral blocks and pasture seed) to benefit 5 000 households with livestock.
• Additionally, FAO reached 11 881 vulnerable households with a six-month cash assistance package to support households affected and threatened by desert locusts to meet their food security needs, amounting to 752,863 UGX.

Media contact:

Agatha Ayebazibwe

Communications Officer

FAO Uganda

WA: +255 779442502

Email: [email protected]