The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Karamoja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A large swarm of desert locusts estimated to cover 100, 000 acres have entered into Uganda and settled in the districts of Karamoja sub region in north eastern Uganda.
According to the Amudat District Senior Agricultural Officer, Joseph Marimoi, the locusts entered through Karita Border area and spread throughout Karita Sub County in the areas of Akou lee, Nacemato, and around the mountains but spread to the Town Council yesterday afternoon.
He explains that the insects however migrated in dense swarms westwards towards Nakapipripirit and Nabilatuk districts.
Marimoi said the district authorities have informed the ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries about the fresh invasion of the desert locusts. He explained that the production department could not immediately truck the movement of the locusts because of the department was ill prepared.
The invasion of the locusts comes at a time the country is struggling to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
On Sunday morning, a team of UPDF soldiers battled with the insects in Namalu Sub County Nakapiripirit district where they settled last night. The UPDF team sprayed the insects in several villages in Namalu for several hours according to the UPDF spokesperson for third division, Maj. Peter Mugisa.
He said the spraying was not effective because the desert locusts are continuously moving flying high over the sky therefore limiting the success of the hand spraying.
The insects have currently moved and settled I n Nature in Nakapiripirt district and Loregei in Lolacet Sub County Nabilatuk and are benign pursued by the UPDF.
the Nakapiripirit District Entomology officer, Dr. Simon Peter Amoga Says they are tracking movement of the locusts in order to inform the UPDF for a response.
The desert locusts first invaded Uganda on January 19 entering the country through the same Alakas in Amudat district.
They spread to other regions but the UPDF managed to kill the insects through hand spraying with assistance from the Desert Locust Control Organization of East Africa.
*******
URN
