Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) advocating for healthy living rights led by the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) have lashed at the European Union over what they have termed as double standards in the manufacturing of toxic chemicals and pesticides exported to Africa.

Speaking during the launch of a documentary in Kampala dubbed The Cancer we Eat: Threat of Agrochemicals in our Food System, David Kabanda, the Executive Director of Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights, warned that the unregulated importation of chemicals like Mancozeb used in spraying tomatoes exposes millions of Ugandans to cancer.

He noted that the missing link in law and human rights has created a huge gap in which unscrupulous businessmen are thriving in selling toxic chemicals ignorantly used by our local farmers.

“Clearly this is double standards, the EU clearly knows that Mancozeb was banned but they continue to manufacture and export to Africa. These chemicals are dangerous and scientists have confirmed that they cause cancer, we are feeding on cancer and no one seems to care,” Kabanda stated

Kabanda disclosed that whereas Uganda is largely an agricultural-based economy, with the sector contributing more than 24.5% of the GDP and 75% of export earnings, over 18,928 tonnes of pesticide is used each year including many dangerous chemicals banned in other countries like Mancozeb.

“It is alarming that in some seasons, up to 94% of the food sold in Uganda’s main markets is contaminated with high doses of dangerous agrochemicals. Most of these cancerous agrochemicals like Mancozeb are banned on other markets including the E.U market yet these are still traded on the Ugandan market. Due to unregulated agrochemicals’ use in the entire food system, no food environment is safe including schools,” he explained.

President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) Benard Oundo addressing stakeholders in Kampala.

The President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) Benard Oundo while addressing the gathering disclosed that the society is looking at increasing awareness, research and deploying a strategic litigation approach to support those already in the struggle.

“I think as ULS, it’s time for us to set up and collaborate with respective organizations and devise ways of dealing with the vice. We need to look at food as a human right which everyone deserves,” Oundo stated.

Dr. Noreb Mugisha from the Uganda Cancer Institute disclosed that in recent years there has been a rise in cases of cancers registered at the institute.

“In 2015, the institute was seeing 3,000 patients annually, between 2021-2022, the number increased to 7,500 cases annually and now we handle 34,000 cases each year. This is alarming and yet we can avoid it. So, if you are to eat a tomato, ensure you wash it using clean running water,” Mugisha said.

While Africa contributes 2% to 4% of the global pesticide consumption, their use has increased by 261% in recent years.  Approximately, Africa uses 1.8 million tons of pesticides, of which 153,901 tons are used annually in East Africa, where Uganda is located.