The desert locusts now pushing through parts of North East Uganda have made it to the districts of Abim and Katakwi. This is in a statement released by Martin Owor a commissioner in the Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Management of the Uganda Office of the Prime Minister.

According to the Commissioner, the swam in Abim is the same one that moved from the district of Amudat to that of Nabilatuk on Sunday 09th February, 2020. The swam that has made its way to Katakwi is believed to have come from the direction of Napak District.

In Alerek Parish, Labwor Sub-county, Abim District, reports indicate that the swam is bigger than those witnessed in the previous days since the government confirmed the arrival of the dreaded desert locusts.

On Monday, sparky equipment and chemicals expected to fight the locusts were airlifted and delivered to Mororto district. On Tuesday, the Hon Minister MAAIF together with, National and International Experts flew to Moroto to do a one day training of ground spray teams and launch the spray program.

“UPDF standby Force of 2000 men/women were already undergoing training and capacity building, training on management of locusts for 17 districts neighboring Kenya and Sudan,” says Stephen Tibeijuka the commissioner at the department of crop protection in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Commissioner Tibeijuka was addressing a press conference at the Uganda media centre early on Tuesday.

Survellieince teams that have been sent out to affected districts are on Tuesday still in the filed collecting information on the movements of the locust clouds. No losses have been reported in the affected districts at the moment.

“So far all districts invaded by the desert locusts have reported no losses because we are in the off-crop season period,” Commissioner Odor says in his statement.

However, the locusts are now consuming pasture which is currently receiving off-season rainfall.