Uganda and Kenya sign pact to fight tsetse flies

Uganda and Kenya have agreed to start a joint regional project to eradicate tsetse flies in the two countries. The pact according Mr Fredrick Luyimbazi Zaake, the Assistant Commissioner Entomology Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries will address tsetse and trypanosomiasis common border problems.“Tsetse flies don’t respect borders, they transmit Nagana and trypanosomiasis from one border to another that calls for joint efforts to stamp it out,” Mr Luyimbazi said.

The Kenyan Minister for Livestock, Dr Mohammed Kuti signed on behalf of Kenya while State Minister for the Animal Industry Maj. Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama signed on behalf of Uganda (pictured right). The process according to Luyimbazi is just awaiting proposals that would be forwarded to funders and will be implemented thereafter. Dr Chris Rutebarika, the Assistant Commissioner, Disease Control in the Ministry of Agriculture said Nagana is biting hard into Africa’s export earnings, estimating the cost at $2b per annum.

He said that the disease may inflict adverse effects if no urgent intervention is put in place to stop its quick spread. “Nagana causes miscarriages in animals and this cuts down the number of animals and the amount of milk and meatproduction,” Dr Rutebarika disclosed. He said that tsetse infestation puts 70 per cent of Uganda’s herd at risk of contracting Nagana making livestock costly for farmers who have to put their animals on trypanocides.