In an effort to combat the desert locust invasion and its post effects, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries has today received a donation worth $3 million (about Shs11.2 billion) from the Russian government to support government operations.
While receiving the donation at the ministry’s head office in Entebbe, the Minister for Agriculture Vincent Ssempijja, applauded the Russian government for always extending donations to Uganda when in need.
Ssempijja promised that the donation is going to be put to perfect use especially to beef up their preparedness program as scientists have warned that more swarms are likely to enter the county any time.
Uganda has so far had two waves of desert locusts this year. Since February when the first swam of locusts invaded Uganda, the flying insects infested 24 districts in six sub-regions of Uganda, including Acholi, Karamoja, Lango, Sebei, Teso, and Bugisu. The Ministry used over Shs22 billion to fight the first invasion before asking for more Shs16 billion for the second invasion.
Last month the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved financing of $48 million (about Shs180 billion) from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Uganda prevent and respond to the threat to livelihoods posed by the desert locust outbreak.