At the beginning of last month, the first swarm of locusts invaded Uganda through Amudat District. More and more swarms of locusts have entered the country through our neighbours Kenya, and they have extended their invasion to over 24 districts.
The government of Uganda is actively using all equipment available at their disposal to fend off the locusts by spraying them, and at one point burned them, as they are waiting for the promised aircraft to spray them from the sky.
A few days ago, these vegetation eating insects made camp in Kidepo Valley National Park, and this has got government puzzled on how to go about them.
The Minister for Agriculture Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, who has been the go-to person about matters concerning locusts in Uganda has said that they have not sprayed the swarm of locusts in the national park because they fear making wild animals angry.
“The animals in Kidepo Valley National park are not violent. They don’t attack people. We fear that spraying pesticides in the park will make them angry and violent,” Ssempijja said.
Ssempijja also reiterated that the locusts have not been that destructive to the vegetation, and that the fight against them is 50% completed.