KAMPALA – The Government of Uganda through Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has on Wednesday received an emergency aid from the People`s Republic of China to fight locusts that invaded the country from Kenya recently.
The donation was handed over to Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja at MAAIF stores in Wandegeya by the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Zheng Zhu Qiang.
The donation includes 10 tons Malathion ULV, 10 tons Malathion EC, 500 back pack mist dusters, 500 hand held ULV sprayers, 2000 medical coveralls, 2000 medical protective masks, 2000 pairs of gloves.
Zheng said Uganda is at its crucial stage, where the Country is battling more than two disasters; desert locust invasion, COVID-19 and the floods.
He said these disasters pose an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods.
“As a friend of Uganda, China is working closely with the Ugandan side in fighting these three enemies. Besides providing assistance to Uganda to fight locusts, China had also provided assistance in kind and in cash to the fight against COVID-19 and floods”. He added.
Zheng thanked the MAAIF for its effective interventions to control the desert locusts’ invasion.
“UPDF and Extension Workers have made great efforts to control the locusts and reduced any significant damage to the vegetation” he said.
“I hope the 20 tons of chemicals and equipment can help the control the insects and minimize the impact of it”. Zheng added.
On behalf of the Government of Uganda, Ssempijja appreciated the Government of the People’s Republic of China who had the Uganda`s call and responded by providing material support towards the control of the Desert Locusts in Uganda.
He said these inputs were donated and airlifted by the Chinese Government up to Entebbe airport using Ethiopian Airways on and May, 20, 21 and 28, 2020.
“I wish to sincerely thank the government of the Peoples’ Republic of China, through H. E. the Ambassador for this enormous support. There is no doubt the donation will indeed take us very far in this effort of ensuring food security for the people of Uganda.”
