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Shift Media News 
By PATRICK JARAMOGI
Kampala, January 5, [SHIFTMEDIA ] – A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has urgently called on the Ugandan government to regulate and ban the use of hazardous pesticides, particularly Glyphosate and Chlorpyrifos, citing grave concerns over public health, environmental degradation, and the future of agriculture in the country.
The CSOs, SEATINI Uganda, PELUM Uganda, and the Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights, have come together to highlight the growing use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) in Uganda, which they argue are increasingly compromising the health of farmers, consumers, and the environment. These concerns come at a time when Uganda’s agricultural sector is struggling with a variety of challenges that threaten food security, livelihoods, and the nation’s long-term development.
PHOTO/SEATINI U
“Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing about 70% of the population and contributing roughly 24% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, experts say that the heavy use of synthetic pesticides, including HHPs, is exacerbating issues such as declining soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, and growing vulnerability to climate change,” said Jane Nalunga the SEATINI Uganda Executive Director.
The Pesticide Crisis
Addressing the press at their Bukoto offices in Kampala on Sunday, Nalunga noted that pesticides which is used as a primary tool to manage pests and diseases in Uganda is highly used by scores of farmers. “According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the total volume of agricultural pesticides used in Uganda doubled between 2010 and 2022, with imports skyrocketing from $32.57 million in 2010 to nearly $76 million in 2022,” said Nalunga.
She explained at the presse attended by representatives from PELUM Uganda, CEFROHT, Consent Uganda, CARITAS, Foods Rights Alliance (FRA) and others that the Uganda agrochemical register, maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture, lists 115 active pesticide ingredients and 669 registered pesticide brands. “However, the Food Safety Coalition Uganda’s (FoSCU) 2024 report revealed that nearly half (47.8%) of these ingredients and more than 68% of the brands are classified as HHPs. These pesticides are associated with serious health risks, including cancer, reproductive toxicity, and environmental harm” said Nalunga.
Health Risks and Environmental Damage
Betty Aguti the Policy and Advocacy Specialist from CARITAS Uganda urged government to immediately ban the listed 115 active pesticide ingredients and 669 regiserted pesticed brands in Uganda. “The research we conducted at CARITAS recently showed us that even the open water wells where our people get water from are not safe at all. Perhaps the safe water is the one you import from abroad,” she said. The widespread use of Glyphosate has been linked to water contamination and soil degradation.
Jane Nalunga noted that the use of highly toxic pesticides, such as Glyphosate-based herbicides, is linked to various health problems, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly. “Studies have shown that pesticide exposure can result in long-term health issues such as respiratory problems, birth defects, and even cancer,” she said.
According to UNICEF, children are particularly at risk, inhaling higher quantities of pesticides during aerial spraying and suffering greater toxicity due to their smaller organs and developing immune systems.
The Executive Director Center For Food and Adequate Lving Rights sounded a warning to the president.”These people are killing our people deliberately, but i want to sound a warning that we shall file suits against you. I am whispering to His Excellency the President that you can’t trade when your people are dying.” Kabanda said as a radical member of the Uganda Law Society, he will as a lawyer take on individually any person “killing” Ugandans with deadly pesticides. “What we have is the elephant in the room, and how do you eat an elephant, one piece at a time. We shall start with legs, ears, then the intestines, untile we win this war,” said Kabanda.
Agnes Kirabo the Executive Director Food Rights Alliance (FRA ) urged government to close the flood gates. “We all know, including government the source of deadly pesticides, government needs to close those gates, then use the network of its security such as GISO’s, PISOs, HISO’s, etc to wipe out the remaining remnants,” said Kirabo.
Moses Onen from Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda said the environmental consequences caused by these deadly pesticides are equally dire. “Pesticides can degrade soil health, harm aquatic ecosystems, and disrupt pollination, threatening biodiversity,” he said. Onen said the growing reliance on HHPs is also eroding the ecological balance of Uganda’s agriculture. He lambasted former Leader of Oposition Prof Ogenga Latigo who hails from Agago his home area for being a pro GMO scientists. “Prof Ogenga let down our farmers in Agago, and that is the reason he was booted from the August House. I advise the President to desist from associating with such people,” said Onen.
Herbert Kafeero the Programs and Communication Manager at SEATINI Uganda said the use of pesticides in fruits and vegetables is affecting trade in the European Union.
The Economic Burden
Kafeero pointed out that the use of hazardous pesticides is not just a health and environmental issue, but also an economic one. “In 2020, Uganda lost over $60 million in fresh produce exports due to pesticide residue violations. The growing cost of pesticides, coupled with the risks associated with counterfeit products and improper application, puts immense pressure on small holder farmers, who are already struggling with high input costs and limited access to modern farming technologies,” said Kafeero.
He called for closer collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Trade, and Ministry of Agriculture to combat pesticide usaged in Uganda.
Bernard Bwambale, a nutritionist and Country Coordinator, Food Safety Coalition Uganda, and Head of Programs Consent Uganda said that pesticide misuse is compounded by weak regulation and insufficient training for farmers. Despite the existence of laws such as the Agricultural Chemicals (Control) Act of 2006, which was meant to regulate pesticide use, implementation remains weak,” he said.
Bwambale observed that the absence of comprehensive regulations and proper enforcement has left farmers vulnerable to the dangers of pesticide overuse and misuse. He urged the Ugandan parliament to fast track and expedite the passing of Food and Drug Act Bill.
Call for Action
In response to these growing concerns, the coalition of CSOs is urging the government to take immediate action. They recommend the following steps to mitigate the risks associated with pesticide use in Uganda:
1. Ban the Importation of Highly Hazardous Pesticides – The government should urgently ban the importation and sale of HHPs, such as Glyphosate and Chlorpyrifos, to protect public health and the environment.
2. Strengthen Regulations and Enforcement – The Ministry of Agriculture should expedite the profiling of agrochemicals available on the market and enforce stricter regulations regarding their use, storage, and trade.
3. Promote Sustainable Agricultural Practices – The government should prioritize agroecology and integrated pest management strategies as sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticide dependence.
4. Education and Awareness – There should be targeted efforts to educate farmers on the safe use of pesticides, as well as alternatives to harmful chemicals.
5. Support Research and Innovation– Increased funding for research into agroecology, pest management, and sustainable farming practices is crucial to reducing dependency on harmful pesticides.
6. International Collaboration – Uganda’s participation in international conventions, such as the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, should be leveraged to strengthen pesticide regulations and promote global best practices in chemical management.
The CSOs also expressed hope that the upcoming Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) summit, set to take place in Uganda in from 9-11 January 2025, will focus on agroecology as a core strategy to improve food security, soil health, and resilience to climate change.
