NEMA to decide on DDT
Nov 23, 2006
THE National environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has set December to give its final verdict on whether to re-introduce DDT.
By Fred Ouma
THE National environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has set December to give its final verdict on whether to re-introduce DDT.
NEMA executive director Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha said this at a public hearing on the environmental Impact assessment process for the proposed re-introduction of indoor residual spraying of DDT at Hotel Africana, Kampala on Tuesday.
He refuted a suggestion by parliamentary social services committee chai-rman James kubeket-erya and MP Chris baryomunsi that DDT re-introduction be subjected to a referendum.
The dialogue was meant to enable NEMA obtain more comments before taking a decision on the environment aspects.
It was attended by ministry officials, scientists, environmental experts, activists, MPs, exporters, academia, students and development partners.
The health ministry wants to re-introduce DDT for indoor spraying as one of the means to fight malaria, now killing 320 Ugandans daily.
But the decision to use the chemical is delayed pending NEMA approval as a lead environmental agency.
Participants, particularly exporters, express-ed concern that Uganda could lose $70m from agricultural exports if it sprayed DDT.
THE National environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has set December to give its final verdict on whether to re-introduce DDT.
NEMA executive director Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha said this at a public hearing on the environmental Impact assessment process for the proposed re-introduction of indoor residual spraying of DDT at Hotel Africana, Kampala on Tuesday.
He refuted a suggestion by parliamentary social services committee chai-rman James kubeket-erya and MP Chris baryomunsi that DDT re-introduction be subjected to a referendum.
The dialogue was meant to enable NEMA obtain more comments before taking a decision on the environment aspects.
It was attended by ministry officials, scientists, environmental experts, activists, MPs, exporters, academia, students and development partners.
The health ministry wants to re-introduce DDT for indoor spraying as one of the means to fight malaria, now killing 320 Ugandans daily.
But the decision to use the chemical is delayed pending NEMA approval as a lead environmental agency.
Participants, particularly exporters, express-ed concern that Uganda could lose $70m from agricultural exports if it sprayed DDT.