MAAIF boosts Teso, Karamoja and Lango sub-regions in preparation for war against locusts

LANGO – A total of 23 districts from Teso, Karamoja and Lango sub-regions that experienced invasion by desert locusts in 2020 have received equipment worth Shs 3b, under the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to support their efforts to deal with any future invasion.

The first invasion by a swarm of locusts was reported in Uganda on 9th February, 2020, in Moroto and Amudat districts, before it spread to 26 districts in Karamoja, Teso, Lango, Acholi, Sebei and Bugisu sub-regions.

Between February and October 2020, Uganda witnessed five waves of desert locust invasions which coincided with the regeneration of rangelands and the start of the planting season thus affecting the production of the main staple food in those sub-regions.

Though Uganda successfully dealt with the invasions, the other Eastern parts of Africa and Horn of Africa regions are still under desert locust threat and invasions, with swarms currently active in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.

This is according to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) report on the possible outbreak of desert locusts, published on the 6th January, 2022.

“As the weather situation remains dry in Northern Somalia, limited movement of swarms of locusts is expected to occur,” reads the report in part.

To prepare Uganda for future locust invasions, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has donated a total of 23 motorcycles and 106 solar powered tablets, and assortment of standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which includes; overalls, helmets and safety goggles to the districts of Eastern and Northern Uganda.

Among the districts which have benefited from the donation include; Karenga, Napak, Amudat, Abim, Nabilatuk, Amudat, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Kotido in Karamoja sub-region, Katakwi, Amuria, Kapelebyong, Soroti, Serere, Bukedea in Teso sub-region and Otuke, Agago, Lamwo in Lango sub-region.

The donation is part of the Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) and the Japan Government under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) contribution towards the fight against desert locusts in Uganda.

The State Minister for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa Abeku, who is also the Woman Member of Parliament Serere district said, the motorbikes are to be used by the extension workers to facilitate their movement to sensitize farmers and communities about crop and animal protection activities since there are currently no locust invasions being dealt with by Uganda.

She revealed that following the invasion of the locust in February, 2020, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture Animals Industry and Fisheries developed Desert Locust Control Strategy and Action Plan 2020-2023, to enhance preparedness and avert any negative effects of desert locust invasions

“Among the interventions of this action plan is; sensitization and awareness creation; capacity building, surveillance, monitoring and mapping of desert locust spread, ground control operations by Uganda People Defence Force (UPDF) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), aerial control operations as well as national coordination and regional collaboration,” said Minister Adoa.

She pointed out that it is against this strategy that the government is continuously enhancing preparedness for desert locust control and implementation, at the same time development partners have hinged their support towards enhanced preparedness in case of any other invasion.

According to Adoa, entomologists say that compared to the past two years where the country experienced five waves of locusts swamps between 9th February to October 2019, there is a potential invasion of swarms later this year because they are only present in North-East Somalia and not in Eastern Ethiopia and Central Somalia where prevailing winds tend not to impede their migration.

District Leaders Reaction.

Silver Ongom, the District Production Officer Katakwi district is grateful to the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries and their partners for the donation of motorcycles and tablets and urged for timely intervention from government agencies towards emerging disasters.

He lamented that most often government agencies take time to respond whenever disasters such as floods and famine occur, which gives the community time to grill them.

The LCV Chairperson Nabilatuk Paul Lokol , is equally happy for the donation which will help increase the presence of the extension workers on ground hence improving physical contact between the Agricultural Officers and the local community.

Meanwhile, Francis Akorikin, Stephen Ochola, the Chairperson Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) in Teso sub-region is grateful to the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries for the donation of motorcycles and tablets to benefiting districts saying, that he prefers donations in kind to cash.

He is confident that these will ease the movement of extension workers, surveillance, monitoring and mapping of desert locust spread.

Ochola discouraged donors from giving government cash, citing that cash donations are tempting and can easily be misused.

The impact of 2020 desert locust invasion in Uganda.

Anotinio Querido, the Country Representative of Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO) said, the 2020 desert locust invasion affected close to 750,000 households in Northern and Eastern Uganda.

According to him, unlike Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya that were hit hard by the desert locust invasion, its impact in Uganda was not much.

However, he called on Uganda to use the experience from the three countries as a learning point and prepare for the worst in the near future.

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Government donates tractors to cooperatives in Kasese

In a bid to boost agricultural production, government through Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) has donated three tractors to three cooperative societies in Kasese district. The donation comes at a time when the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is prioritizing agricultural mechanization.

The beneficiary cooperatives are; Abasaija Kweyamba Cooperative Society, Bigando Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Kaveera Barracks Women Cooperative Society.

Handing over the tractors, Hanny Turyahebwa, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kasese district lauded government for prioritizing agricultural mechanization. Turyahebwa has since been transferred to Ntungamo district in the same capacity.

Gideon Ntabose Sanyu, the Vice Chairman Kasese district said that once properly utilized, the tractors will help farmers in the beneficiary cooperatives to boost their production and consequently household incomes.

“We carried out a needs assessment in all cooperative societies during the time Gen. Salim Saleh [Chief Coordinator, Operation Wealth Creation] was in the district. We found out that ploughing was still a major problem to our farmers, and these three cooperatives had the capacity to increase their production if supported with tractors,” Ntabose said.

Julius Baluku, the district Production Coordinator appealed to the beneficiary cooperative to put the tractors to good use. Operation Wealth Creation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the beneficiary cooperatives on maintenance and proper use of the tractors.

Semu Mulimba, Advocacy officer Bigando Cooperative Society, lauded government for the donation. “We are grateful to government for the tractors, this will help ease our work,” Mulimba said.

The Kasese Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Lt Joe Walusimbi implored leaders of the three cooperatives to ensure that all farmers have equal access to the tractors. “Don’t use these tractors on things that are outside the Momorandum of Understanding, but rather stick to the intended purpose for increased production,” Walusimbi cautioned.

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Ssempija roots for Agricultural Mechanisation

The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempija has appealed to farmers in Rwenzori sub region to embrace agricultural mechanisation as one of improving production.

Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempija. Photo by JAMES ABAL

He emphasised that mechanisation will not only boost production but also improve on the quality of agricultural products. “Government is emphasising mechanisation of agriculture to improve on quality and production.

This is the reason why we partnered with National Agriculture Advisory Services to give out tractors to farmer groups” Ssempija said.

Speaking at the Rwenzori Investment Expo at Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal town on Thursday, Ssempija revealed that government plans to establish regional mechanisation centres across the country to offer technical assistance to farmer groups.

Under the theme, “Investment for local economic development,” the Rwenzori Expo, was organised by Operations Wealth Creation (OWC) in conjunction with Uganda Investment Authority (UAI) among other stakeholders. The expo was meant to showcase investment opportunities in the Rwenzori sub region.

Gen. Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator OWC in his speech read for him by his deputy Lt Gen. Charles Angina noted an improvement in agricultural production in the country due to government initiatives.

“Generally, the agricultural sector has registered improved growth rates over the last four years averaging 3.0 percent per annum. The performance across the prioritized commodities has been generally good with significant improvements observed in key strategic and food security commodities” Saleh said.

He said the expo will go a long way in opening up Rwenzori sub region for investment. “As you may all already know, this region has significant investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism, mining etc. This expo will trigger investment in the region by attracting both local and international investors by providing a forum private investors, local governments, central government and other development partners to network” he said.

Exhibitors views

Emmanuel Mutungi, the chairman Kyegegwa Fruit Farmers Association said the expo offered him an opportunity to learn from fellow farmers. “I have interacted with other farmers, shared knowledge, experiences and challenges which may help us [the association] in our daily farming activities” Mutungi said.

Kyegegwa Fruit Farmers Association is one of the groups that received a tractor to boost their production. The association grows and makes juice from watermelons, mangoes, pineapples among others. Since 2014, Operation Wealth Creation has been instrumental in supporting farmers with seeds and other farm inputs to boost production.

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Police savings association hit Shs 16bn, acquires estates in Kansanga and Gayaza

The Uganda Police Savings Association Limited (PSAL) has registered a remarkable growth in its savings and asset base. PSAL Chairman, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Edward Ochom told theCooperator that the association’s net worth is now Shs 16bn and a loan portfolio of more than Shs 300 million.

Ochom said due to increased savings, PSAL has acquired land and constructed estates in Kansanga, Gayaza and soon in Bwebajja along Entebbe Road. “Many of our members have not only educated their children and constructed houses due to savings and loans from PSAL,” Ochom said.

PSAL was formed in 1989 as a welfare association to supplement the earnings of police officers. “We all know that our police officers earn little money, yet they have children to look after and also need to develop. It is from these savings that majority of them have managed to educate their children up to university and also buy land and construct houses,” said Ochom.

Over the years, PSAL has endured many challenges that nearly closed its closure. In 1990s, PSAL had more than 14,000 members. However, the membership dropped after the Justice Ssebutinde led Commission of Inquiry that unearthed scandals in the Force. Ssebutinde’s Commission found that majority of the members mainly the low ranking officers were un able to acquire loans, in addition to embezzlement of funds by leaders.

Read Also : Police SACCO fails to account for Shs.5billion, faces forensic audit.

“We had started well in the 1990s. The saving scheme had more than 14,000 members but after some issues, the number reduced to 700. I am glad that now we are rising in numbers once again. We are now 2,271 registered members,” Ochom told theCooperator.

The Force currently has two parallel Savings schemes – PSAL and the Exodus SACCO. The Exodus SACCO that boosts of 27,000 members was formed by the former Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura in 2007.

30th Anniversary

In January this year, PSAL held the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Nsambya Sharing Hall, Kampala that coincided with its 30th anniversary. Speaking at the event, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola hailed the board of directors for steering the association out of its past troubles.

“I would like to thank the board of directors for the support and dedication in advancing the cause of our officers. You are not only the backbone of savings in the force but also its heart and soul,” Ochola said.

Ochola asked the leadership to stick to the association’s core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. “As Uganda Police leadership, we are delighted to be part of this Annual General Meeting which reflects in a practical way, how police officers can organize ourselves in a proper manner to financially benefit from one another and help to make a difference in our general welfare,” Ochola, who is also a member of PSAL said.

He added, “We support the many positive contributions and initiatives undertaken by PSAL and other saving schemes which are aimed at helping the Police officers and their families in raising their standards of living,”.

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