By Racheal Nuwahereza

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has revealed intentions to procure and distribute over 3,001 litres of the recommended pesticides and appropriate gear required to beat back the raging African army worm invasion that has devastated crops in many parts of the country.

Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, the State Minister for Agriculture, said that the ministry has contacted various distributors of the relevant pesticides and advised them to ensure that enough stocks exist in the country especially nearer the affected communities to control the pest.

Kyakulaga revealed that one litre of pesticide which costs about UGX 20,000 can effectively contain one acre of affected crop/ pasture land. Adding that the government will continue to conduct surveillance and monitoring of the pest, with a view of minimizing its buildup and potential full-blown epidemic.

“Ministry Crop Inspectors have been dispatched to various affected districts to verify reports, establish the pest status as well as provide guidance to the district staff and farmers on the control measures,” said Kyakulaga in a statement.

In the Tuesday plenary sitting, Members of Parliament tasked Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja to present a report on the African armyworms that are ravaging crop gardens across the country and threatening food security in the country asking for immediate action to be taken by government.

Information received by the House indicates that more than 47 districts across the country including; Mukono, Wakiso, Katakwi, Bukedea, Bugweri, Serere, Busia, Bugiri, Mityana, Kiryandongo, Namutumba, Kumi, Luwero, Kasese, Masindi, Soroti, Nakapiripirit, Bulambuli, and Hoima have among others been invaded by the African armyworms that have left several acres of maize, millet and sorghum gardens destroyed.

In response, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said that on Monday, cabinet got the report from the Minister of Agriculture about the issue and they came up with some resolutions, among which is the provision of pesticides to the different districts that have been affected.

Nabbanja appealed to MPs to support government in the fight against the armyworm in the different areas.

Dr. Stephen Byatwale, the commissioner in-charge of crop protection department in the Ministry of Agriculture recently said that the African Armyworm is a migratory moth suspected to have migrated from neighbouring countries renowned for higher temperatures into Uganda as a result of the climate change that the country is currently experiencing. Adding that the moth whose larvae stage is pest (army worm) causes a lot of losses to cereals.

“The caterpillars move in large numbers, attacking crop fields and that invasions are mostly common at the onset of the wet season. They feed on cereals including; maize, millet, sorghum and pastures. It has also been observed to also feed on sugarcane and wheat. In maize and other cereals, yield loss as a result of caterpillar feeding goes up to 100%,” he said.

The worst outbreak of the armyworm was reported in Kenya and Tanzania in 2001, where at least 157,000 hectares of cereals were destroyed.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

President Yoweri Museveni has described the deceased former speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah as a great cadre of the ruling NRM party who used his talents well to benefit the country and made an impact at his young age.

While addressing mourners on Wednesday at Kololo independence grounds, Museveni said: “As NRM, we started dealing with Oulanyah when he was the chairperson of the Parliamentary legal committee. Although he was still in UPC, we noticed him and saw that he had potential. We supported him to take up the duties of Deputy Speaker, he took that time to multiply his talents. He used his talents well. He was a good orator .He was hardworking. Losing Oulanyah now is a big loss. He was somebody who was coming up and the country was going to get a lot of benefits from him.”

According to the president, many governments before the ruling NRM government, tried to solve the problems in Northern Uganda that dated back to 1966 and failed, Oulanyah sped it up when he was voted as the NRM vice chairperson for Northern Uganda last year.

“He had already done good job in uniting northern Uganda. It had been messed up by bad politics. When he became vice chairperson, in short time he had deepened unity. I need to salute Oulanyah and commend him as an example. He broke away from sectarian politics of opposition and made good contribution to the country,” said Museveni.

The president also warned against tribalism that had started to manifest itself following Oulanyah’s death.

“I don’t want to hear talk of northern. He was not speaker of north but Uganda. When you hear opportunists talking of northern Uganda, tell them to shut up. NRM supported him not because he was this or that but because was good cadre. He would never have won if NRM didn’t support him. Ugandans supported him because of his patriotism and pan Africanism and not because of his clan,” said Museveni.

“We have lost so many people, from 1972 when we fought Amin to 1986. I know more about the pain of losing people. However, instead of crying, we said we must continue and succeed so that those who died did not do so in vain. Let us succeed for Jacob Oulanyah,” he said.

“I want to salute the Chief Justice for the idea of the Oulanyah Education Fund. Instead of just crying and mourning, you should be looking at how to help the children. Government will contribute to that fund so that the children continue,” said Museveni.

He added that parliament has resolved that every March 23, which is Oulanyah’s birthday will be honoured as the Jacob Oulanyah Memorial Lecture Day. 

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Oulanyah succumbed to multi organ failure -Dr Jane Ruth Aceng

Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of health has confirmed in a brief medical report that the former speaker of the 11th parliament Jacob Oulanyah succumbed to multiple organ failure.

In a report presented during the special sitting at Parliamentary on Tuesday, Aceng informed parliament that Oulanyah’s ill health started in 2019 when he discovered a big swelling in the neck.

“He took it upon himself to seek medical attention in Germany where the swelling was analyzed and established to be cancerous. It was removed and he was started on treatment which he finished at the Uganda Cancer Institute,” said Aceng.

Aceng however says after he had completed treatment for this swelling, he later developed some challenges during the lockdown and election period when he was unable to be in hospital.

“On 23 January January 2022, he was admitted to Mulago Hospital for twoo weeks and during that time, he was being prepared to travel to get gene therapy treatment known as the CART-Cell which did not require more chemotherapy which had suppressed the bone marrow,” she said.

Aceng added that tests were carried out, biopsy tissues recalled for further analysis and the bone marrow analyzed.

Aceng revealed in thisreport that the heart failed, the lungs failed and the kidney failed.

“The liver started failing while he was still in Uganda and the lungs started collecting fluid. The heart and the kidney started failing while in Seattle, USA” said Aceng.

Aceng also revealed that while in Makerere, Oulanyah sustained an injury during a student strike there which led to the loss of his spleen (an organ for manufacturing red blood cells) which resulted into splenectomy.  

He had lymphatic system depletion and challenges with stem cell, poor immune system response because of chemotherapy.

“These were also contributory conditions which included lymphatic system depletion. We had multiple bacterial infections discovered here and several viral infections discovered in Seattle and unfortunately, the treatment for viral infection further suppressed the bone marrow,” said Aceng.

“He started having gastrointestinal bleeding because of lack of platelets and we couldn’t stop the bleeding, he also had drug resistant bacteria which is usually hospital-acquired when you spend long in the hospital,” she revealed.

All this resulted from Progressive Recurrent Defused Large B Cell Lymphomia; a type of cancer and the chemo he received.

Oulanyah passed away on March 20 at the University of Washington Medical Centre, Seattle, USA where he had been taken to receive specialized medical care.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Robert Menendez, the Chairperson of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has petitioned President Joe Biden asking him to withdraw an invite to President Museveni ahead of the 2022 US-Africa Leaders’ summit over alleged violation of human rights in Uganda.

In a letter dated March 28, 2022, Menendez also wants Lt Gen  Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the  Commander of the Land Forces in the UPDF, also son to Museveni sanctioned by the US for his alleged participation in the torture of novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaijja.

Menendez states despite Lt Gen Muhoozi denying knowing who Kakwenza is, Rukirabashaijja, firmly alleges that Muhoozi personally participated in at least one interrogation session.

Citing the 2021 general elections, Menendez claims opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu was tortured and illegally detained alongside other party members and leaders adding that Museveni has long relied on torture, violence and illegal detention to punish his critics.

He adds that no one has been held accountable for numerous instances of other security force abuses such as the 2016 Kasese massacre in which more than 100 men, women, children were killed or the 2020 killing of the 54 civilians protesting the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi during the course of his election campaign.

Menendez also argues that President Museveni has on two occassions changed the constitution to remain in power, overlooked democratic processes, turned a blind eye to rampant corruption, and subjected civil society, political leaders to illegal detention, violence and torture with impunity.

“Mr President, if the outcome of the elections in Uganda does not reflect the will of the people, I will be calling for the Biden administration to re-evaluate our relationship with the Museveni administration. Uganda’s stature and importance as a security partner should not prevent the United States from speaking out in support of democracy, and taking action in support of those Ugandans fighting for democratic freedoms,” said Menendez in a Senate record statement about safeguarding democracy in Uganda.

“Despite this troubling track record, Uganda remains one of the top recipients of US foreign aid and security assistance. While the US has issued statements and expressions of concern after human rights violations come to light, such statements are insufficient. Personal targeted sanctions would have greater impact,” Menendez added.

Menendez now wants the US to sanction all Ugandan officials implicated in the violation of human rights, eliminate army officers from any form of training with US army, and also sanction the individuals running detention facilities where Ugandans are illegally kept.

He says that recent sanctions against Gen Kale Kayihura and Maj Gen Abel Kandiho came a little too late and could not necessarily impact.

Uganda has of recent accused the West, especially the US government of meddling into its affairs.