CSOs opposed to Biotechnology and Safety Bill

Civil Society Organizations in Uganda are opposed to Parliament passing the National Biotechnology and Safety Bill. 

This was revealed in a press conference at Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) offices in Kampala over the weekend. 

Caritas Uganda policy and advisory specialist Betty Rose Aguti said that the Bill contains a number of clauses that still need to be amended to protect Ugandans from the risk and harm that occurs from unintentional release of GMOs. 

She added that their concern is on precautionary principle, application of the Bill, title of the Bill, food security and food sovereignty, national security and social-economic stability, consumer protection considerations and others. 

Caritas' Allan Ssebulime said that the Bill is not good not until it is amended. 

Earlier on, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah noted that the Bill in question was so technical and MPs needed more time to read and understand it before it's discussed on the floor of Parliament.