A growing coalition of experts, civil society organizations, and food safety advocates was intensifying its call on the Ugandan government to implement a comprehensive ban and phase-out of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), warning that the current reliance on these chemicals poses an escalating crisis for farms, food security, and the health of the nation.
The Looming Threat of HHPs
A recent report by the Food Safety Coalition of Uganda (FoSCU) highlighted the alarming scale of the problem, revealing that nearly half of the pesticides currently in use across Uganda are classified as HHPs. These chemicals, many of which had been banned in markets like the European Union (EU) due to health risks, were associated with severe adverse effects, including:
- Public Health Risks: FoSCU noted that HHPs had been linked to carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive toxicities in humans.
- Environmental Damage: They posed extreme hazards to aquatic life and vital pollinators like bees, threatening the delicate ecosystem that supports agriculture.
- Contamination and Export Blocks: Traces of these banned chemicals were frequently cited as the reason Ugandan agricultural exports, such as coffee and cereals, were blocked from entering lucrative international markets, costing the country millions in lost revenue. Furthermore, issues like Aflatoxin contamination in maize were exacerbated by poor chemical management.
Calls for Stronger Regulation and Action
Civil society organizations (CSOs), including FoSCU and partners like CARITAS, were demanding a multi-pronged approach from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF):
- Immediate Ban and Phase-Out: The primary demand was for the government to push for the eradication of HHPs, prioritizing those banned in the EU but still sold freely in Ugandan markets.
- Tougher Penalties for Counterfeits: Food experts were advocating for heftier fines and penalties for individuals and businesses involved in the sale of counterfeit and illegal agricultural chemicals, which often pose an even greater, unlisted hazard.
- Enhanced Awareness and Capacity Building: Studies indicated a critical knowledge gap among farmers and agricultural extension workers regarding safe pesticide use. Organizations were stepping in to provide training sessions on HHP identification and responsible agrochemical application to mitigate immediate risks.
Government Response and Way Forward
While the calls for a ban grew louder, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) acknowledged the danger. The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), was reportedly working to design pesticides risk management strategies aimed at creating more public awareness about the dangers of agrochemical misuse and abuse.
However, critics argued that educational campaigns were insufficient and that a strict regulatory framework, including outright bans on the most harmful chemicals, was the only way to protect both the health of Ugandans and the nation’s export potential. The debate highlights the fundamental tension between maximizing crop yields in the short term and ensuring long-term food safety and public health.
