Rats to de-mine northern Uganda
Apr 23, 2008
RATS might be used to de-mine areas in the northern region. Kitgum, Pader and Gulu districts that were the centre of a two-decade long war between the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels and the UPDF are said to be infested with landmines.
By Barbara Among
RATS might be used to de-mine areas in the northern region. Kitgum, Pader and Gulu districts that were the centre of a two-decade long war between the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels and the UPDF are said to be infested with landmines.
Ambassador James Mugume of the foreign affairs ministry said the proposal was considered at a five-day workshop on peace and security in the Great Lakes region at Imperial Royal Hotel, Kampala.
“If found viable, we shall consider using it,†said Mugume
He said the workshop would consider the costs of the project, which is being used in Mozambique and tested at Tanzania’s Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Under the technology developed by APOPO, an anti-landmine organisation based in Tanzania, a rat can de-mine 100 square metres in 20 minutes. A landmine expert can do the same work in two days.
The concept uses the African giant pouched rats which live for eight years and have a high sense of smell. This is longer than the life expectancy of the average rats.
“We train them to detect landmines and tuberculosis in human beings,†said Christopher Cox, APOPO’s director.
However, the rats are not used to detonate the devices.
Cox said the rats are normally seen crossing the roads at night, with their tails up. They live in holes and like eating maize. APOPO has 55 trained rats and about 50 more are undergoing instruction at Sokoine University.
RATS might be used to de-mine areas in the northern region. Kitgum, Pader and Gulu districts that were the centre of a two-decade long war between the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels and the UPDF are said to be infested with landmines.
Ambassador James Mugume of the foreign affairs ministry said the proposal was considered at a five-day workshop on peace and security in the Great Lakes region at Imperial Royal Hotel, Kampala.
“If found viable, we shall consider using it,†said Mugume
He said the workshop would consider the costs of the project, which is being used in Mozambique and tested at Tanzania’s Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Under the technology developed by APOPO, an anti-landmine organisation based in Tanzania, a rat can de-mine 100 square metres in 20 minutes. A landmine expert can do the same work in two days.
The concept uses the African giant pouched rats which live for eight years and have a high sense of smell. This is longer than the life expectancy of the average rats.
“We train them to detect landmines and tuberculosis in human beings,†said Christopher Cox, APOPO’s director.
However, the rats are not used to detonate the devices.
Cox said the rats are normally seen crossing the roads at night, with their tails up. They live in holes and like eating maize. APOPO has 55 trained rats and about 50 more are undergoing instruction at Sokoine University.