Kampala, (UG):- A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Uganda has petitioned the government to regulate and ban hazardous pesticides, citing their detrimental effects on health, agriculture, and the environment.
These pesticides, the CSOs argue, are silently undermining the country’s potential for agricultural growth and sustainability, and further warn that they are compromising long-term viability of a productive sector that employs around 70% of the working population and accounts for about 24% of Uganda’s GDP.
In a joint statement dated January 5, 2025, and signed by at least 10 member organizations, the group detailed the adverse impacts of these pesticides, including declining soil fertility, over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture, increased vulnerability to climate change, and pest resistance fueled by Uganda’s tropical climate.
The organisations comprising the Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) Uganda, Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI), Participatory Ecological Land-Use Management (PELUM) Uganda, CARITAS Uganda, Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT), Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), CONSENT, Food Rights Alliance (FRA), Food Safety Coalition Uganda (FoSCU), and Gender, Environment and Development Action are, therefore, calling for immediate action.
“We recognize the persistent challenges of pest resistance, given Uganda’s tropical climate which favors pest diversity and faster multiplication rates. Pest and disease management remain one of the major production constraints for farmers of different crops,” the statement read in part.
The CSOs expressed concern over how these challenges negatively impact livelihoods and jeopardize progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2, which aims to end hunger. They emphasized that controlling harmful pests, diseases, and invasive weeds is essential to boosting agricultural productivity.
The increasing use of pesticides in Uganda has been attributed to their role in modern agricultural practices, such as hybrid seed production and livestock rearing. However, reports reveal significant issues with the quality and safety of these chemicals.
“We are alarmed that according to the 2024 Food Safety Synthesis Report published by the Food Safety Coalition Uganda (FoSCU) on ‘Food Safety-Crop Protection Nexus: Insights from Uganda’s Agriculture Sector,’ of the legally registered active ingredients, 47.8% and 68.6% of the brands in Uganda qualified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) according to the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) criteria for Highly Hazardous Pesticides HHPs (FoSCU, 2024; PAN, 2021),”
“On the other hand, FoSCU reported that 15.6% of the registered active ingredients and 19.2% of the registered brands in Uganda qualified as HHPs in accordance with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)/World Health Organisation (WHO)-Joint Meeting on Pesticide Management (JMPM) criteria (FoSCU, 2024; JMPM, 2008),” the CSOs quoted in the statement.
The organisations also drew attention to a UNICEF report highlighting the severe health risks posed by pesticides, particularly to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, young children, and the elderly. “If exposed to aerially sprayed pesticides, children will inhale double the amount of an average adult. On the same note, due to the small size of the liver and kidney, the same chemical is likely to be 10 times more toxic to a child than to an adult (UNICEF, 2018).”
The impact of hazardous pesticides extends beyond human health. Uganda’s aquatic species diversity is reportedly in decline, threatening pollinators like bees and exacerbating losses for farmers. A report by the FAO and the Uganda Bureau of Standards details how pesticide mismanagement has negatively affected the country’s agricultural exports.
“We are further concerned that high pesticide costs, counterfeits, and health-related productivity losses burden small-scale farmers. Counterfeit agrochemicals make up 40% of Uganda’s market, causing financial losses (FAO, 2019). FAO (2020) estimated that Africa loses $4 billion annually to pesticide mismanagement. We have further noted that according to UBOS 2021, Uganda lost over $60 million in fresh produce exports in 2020 due to residue violations (UBOS, 2021),” the CSOs noted.
Calling for Sustainable Solutions
Despite these challenges, the CSOs commended the government for its efforts, particularly the enactment of the Agricultural Chemicals (Control) Act in 2006. This law was designed to regulate the manufacture, storage, trade, use, and export of agricultural chemicals in Uganda, and the CSOs believe it is vital for protecting the health and food security of Ugandans.
However, they assert that the country must go further. Sustainable, agroecological farming practices, they say, are the key to addressing Uganda’s agricultural challenges while protecting health, biodiversity, and the environment.
“We reassert that breaking the cycle of pesticide dependency requires thorough awareness and research,” they stated, urging the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) to lead the charge in promoting alternatives and improving pesticide regulation.
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