The State Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, has dismissed reports suggesting that desert locusts have invaded or are currently present in Uganda. Speaking to the media, the minister said that the government has not recorded any sightings or evidence of a locust outbreak within the country’s borders.
“There is no outbreak of locusts in Uganda, and we urge the public to remain calm. The reports making rounds on social media and some platforms are baseless and inaccurate,” Bwino stated. He added that the Ministry of Agriculture has a surveillance system in place through the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA), and there has been no indication of any locust movement towards Uganda.
As a precautionary measure, the government has written to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and DLCO-EA seeking updates and verification on the current locust situation in the region. The move is intended to ensure that Uganda remains prepared in case of any regional threat.
Bwino reaffirmed the government's commitment to safeguarding food security and agricultural productivity, emphasizing that all relevant agencies are on alert. He also called on the media to avoid spreading panic and instead rely on verified information from the Ministry or international monitoring bodies.
