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Experts at the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad), say the nine member states should prepare for yet another infestation anytime. This is between March and May next year – a period of the year just before the first harvest season.
Locust attacks remain one of the most devastating threats to food security in the Igad states. This include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, with the region last hit three years ago.
At the time, just a one square kilometre locust swarm showed itself able to consume the equivalent of food for 35,000 people in one day
Mr Kenneth Mwangi, the Transboundary Pest Management Project manager at Igad, yesterday said prevailing weather conditions conducive for locust breeding are being witnessed in the region.
“…these locusts normally migrate from Yemen at a particular time of the year… There are events that are happening like the El-nino and so much increased rainfall in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. That now elevates the risk. We are looking at swarms that will be coming in from those areas in these months because the winds are moving downwards,” he said.
In 2020, locusts invaded the East and Horn of Africa region, affecting 3.4 million people. Ethiopia and Somalia were the worst hit in what was acknowledged as the most dramatic infestation in 25 years.
In Uganda, the desert locusts’ invasion, the first of its kind in several years, was first noticed in Amudat District, bordering Kenya in Karamoja Sub-region.
Swarms of locusts attacked and ravaged all greenery, eating away thousands of acres of food crops and pasture. The pests eventually spread across Karamoja before traveling into Acholi, Lango, Sebei and Teso sub-regions.
In multiple waves, the locusts destroyed vegetation, including crops. This left at least 750,000 households vulnerable in 10 districts before the government sent out food aid to the affected communities. However, this time Mr Mwangi says the region is better prepared.
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
