Authorities probe suspected locust outbreak in Kitgum

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A suspected wave of locusts has descended on Orom sub-county in Kitgum district, ravaging crops and wild vegetation in what residents fear could be the start of a fresh agricultural crisis.

The insects were first spotted on the morning of June 14, 2025, in the villages of Agoromin and Agoromin City, located in Lolwa parish near the borders of Kotido district, Agago district, and South Sudan.

So far, maize and other wild plants have been destroyed over an area estimated at 200 square metres in Lolwa parish.

Uganda last experienced a major desert locust crisis in 2020, the first in over 60 years, when swarms entered the country from Kenya and caused widespread damage to crops and pastureland, especially in Amudat district and other parts of the Karamoja, Acholi, Lango, Sebei, and Teso sub-regions.

The locusts devastated staple crops and grazing land, threatening food security and livelihoods.

Yoweri Odida, a farmer and resident of Agoromin village said he saw the insects damaging his maize crop and nearby wild trees.

“Yesterday, when I left home to check on my garden, I discovered some insects similar to those that came to our area sometime back, eating my maize leaves and leaves of some wild trees at the boundary of my garden. I had to inform our local leaders immediately, who came with the soldiers and witnessed the destruction by these insects believed to be multiplying quickly, as young ones are spread on many wild tree leaves and grasses,” Odida said.

Odida expressed concern that the insets could spread further, citing reports of some seen flying near Agoromin Primary School, with larvae scattered across tree leaves and grasses in the area, potentially threatening more crops and risking famine in the community.

Johnson Todera Acellam, the sub-county local council chairperson for Orom, confirmed that approximately 200 square metres of farmland had been affected and warned that the insects were spreading rapidly.

“Community members woke up and found a swarm of locusts flying around the village of Agoromin and Agoromin City. We visited a garden where I saw maize leaves being eaten by insects. This prompted me to make phone calls to the district chairperson and the commander of the Saba Saba battalion here in Orom, informing them of the disaster being caused by these insects in our area. The commander of the army battalion accompanied me to witness and later confirmed that the insects are locusts,” Todera narrated.

Todera fears the pests could spread to neighbouring villages, including Israel, Mulembe, Lugerema, Kamanading, Omoro, Madiopei, Lagwelima, Labwormor, and Labworomor West, as larvae are already moving across Agoromin village.

John Bosco Komakec, the Kitgum district vector control officer, said the affected area has been mapped and that samples of the insects have been collected for analysis to determine their species.

“The communities reported some hoppers have invaded their maize gardens, and we asked them to provide clear identification and ensure visibility of the insects. What we saw looks different from the desert locusts that invaded the area in 2020. I sent extension workers to collect samples, and once they reach the office, we shall investigate whether they are true locusts because it seems the hoppers are different from the desert locusts we saw in 2020,” Komakec said.

Christopher Obol Arwayi, the Kitgum district chairperson, believes the locusts may have arrived in small numbers earlier and later multiplied, spreading across the two affected villages.

Arwayi added that coordination efforts are underway with the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, to contain the outbreak as quickly as possible.

“We got the information yesterday about the presence of locusts in Orom Sub-county. The district vector control officer has been directed to conduct an assessment and provide findings to inform the next course of action. We informed the soldiers who had previously helped us during the recent invasion. The community needs to cooperate with the district team so that we gather relevant information and respond accordingly,” Arwayi said.

Following the 2020 desert locust invasion, the Ugandan government implemented a multi-pronged response, including aerial spraying, ground spraying using vehicles and hand pumps, and the deployment of soldiers to assist in containment.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other international bodies supported the response by providing livelihood assistance, livestock support, and cash transfers to affected households.

Uganda experienced three waves of locust invasion in 2020, with the first occurring in February/March, the second in April, and the third in May.