Kamwenge: Banana Bacteria Wilt Disease Reported
By Racheal Nuwahereza
A section of farmers in Kamwenge district have reported an outbreak of Banana Bacterial Wilt Disease.
The disease commonly known as “kajunde” in Runyankole language was first Identified in the plantation of Twesigye Joseph, a resident of Mutwe cell, who has a banana plantation along Mutwe-Kyamwera Road in Nkoma Ward, Nkoma Kataryeba town council, Kibale East constituency, in Kamwenge district.
Twesigye says he started noticing small signs of the disease in his plantation in the month of March, adding that he is worried that he might lose 3 acres of banana plantation to this Banana bacteria wilt.
Milton Musherure, the LC1 chairperson told our reporter that they identified one case in this village and they decided to mobilize locals to fight this disease by putting up preventive measures.
Musherure also lauded Twesigye for alerting local authorities and agriculture officers about this disease before it spread to other places.
Mohammed Owoyesigire, the agriculture officer for Nkoma-Kataryeba on phone, confirmed the outbreak of this disease in Mutwe cell adding that he also received another case from Ntuntu II, Buregyeya Ward, also in Nkoma-Kataryeba Town council making a total of 2 cases in the whole town council.
Owoyesigire said they are doing everything possible to stop the further spread of this disease.
The major characteristics of the disease are yellowing and complete wilting of the plant starting with the most peripheral leaves. After wilting, the leaves tend to droop and the plant eventually stops growing and dies.
