Debate on GMO foods resumes next week

Sep 28, 2017

The Science, Technology and Innovations minister, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, said the debate on the Bill is slated to resume on Tuesday, next week.

Science and innovation minister Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye (left) with delegates. Photos by Maria Wamala

The Parliament is expected to resume debate on the Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill next week.

The Science, Technology and Innovations minister, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, said the debate on the Bill is slated to resume on Tuesday. According to the minister, the Bill could be passed before the end of the week.

 

 “It is estimated that Uganda shall have 100 million people by 2050. We cannot feed that population if we do not embrace scientific and technological advancements in food production. We need to feed these people and help them progress,” Tumwesigye added.

He was speaking during a three-day high-level conference on application of science, technology and innovation in harnessing African agricultural transformation at Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo in Kampala on Wednesday. The conference is being attended by delegates from several countries on the continent.

President Yoweri Museveni, in a statement delivered by agriculture minister, Vincent Ssempijja, stated that innovations will continue to play a greater role in the global livestock and food production systems in the future.

 

He called for increased adoption of agricultural technological innovations and reiterated that the Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill currently being considered by Parliament “has no problem”.

“I have said before that the Bill has no problem, and we have used this technology before. But there has been controversy about it partly due to lack of information,” he added.

The executive director of Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, Cyprian Ebong, said Uganda should increase investment in science and technology to protect her people from anger, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

“Uganda should be planning 25 years ahead. There should be increased investment. The country needs to push the science agenda forward,” he added.

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