COVID-19 affects Uganda's response to fresh locust invasion

LOCUSTS | COVID-19

KAMPALA - Uganda may not efficiently respond to the second invasion of the destructive desert locust that has entered Uganda due to the impacts of coronavirus.

The desert locust swarms from Kenya which entered Uganda through Amudat district on April 3, comprise of immature adult desert locusts that recently hatched in Kenya, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja.

"The immature adult desert locust is a growth stage that still feeds heavily and therefore has the potential to destroy vegetation wherever they go," Ssempijja said during a press briefing at the Media Center on Tuesday.

Despite this threat, Sempijja revealed that although the government has fast-tracked the procurement of appropriate chemicals for spraying the locusts, the chemicals cannot be delivered due to closure of airspaces.

"The absence of this chemical hinders the use of Aircraft which are much more efficient than the ground operations," Ssempija said.

He revealed that a total of 1,400 litres of Fenitrothion 96% Ultra-low volume (ULV) out of the 10, 000 liters that were ordered has so far been received from Twiga Kenya Limited.

"The chemical has not been received due to limited aircraft flying out of Japan due to the COVID - 19 challenge. The Supplier is also trying various methods of shipping the chemical to Uganda,"

He also noted that the Nose Masks (N95) that need to be used while spraying the locusts are hard to find due to the stiff competition for them since they are also being used to protect communities from Coronavirus.

By April 6, the two swarms that entered have further spread into Kumi, Katakwi, Otuke, and Agago districts. Each of the swarms is estimated to cover between 5 - 10 square kilometres.

Currently, Uganda will depend on the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) for ground spraying of the locust as it did with the previous invasions.

"The control activities by the UPDF have not allowed the desert locusts to settle and cause any significant damage to the vegetation. This has made it extremely hard for them to lay eggs as the spraying destabilizes them and they instead move in smaller swarms," Ssempija said

To-date 2,045 UPDF soldiers, 85 Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) staff, 385 extension workers and 450 other district local government staff have been trained and deployed.

Previously, Uganda has recorded nine huge swarms of desert locusts in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

These swarms were classified as mature locusts and did not cause significant damage to the vegetation cover.

However, the eggs that were laid are expected to hatch into nymphs and young locusts that have a high affinity for food.

"This may pose an imminent danger to food security and livelihoods," Ssempija said.

The government has so far procured and dispatched to the affected communities 500 motorised spray pumps, 2,000 knapsack spray pumps and 2,000 sets of personal protective gear.

This equipment is being used by field teams. Ground control operations have been conducted in all the 24 districts to minimise the spread of mature egg-laying desert locusts.

The government has so far mobilised sh22bn from its treasury and various development partners to facilitate the implementation of the desert locust control plan.

The additional sh16.18bn approved by the cabinet has not yet been received from the treasury. 

Farming communities in the affected communities are however encouraged to take advantage of the recent rains and plant crops to avert a possible food crisis.