Musisi should apologise to us, grasshopper dealers demand

Masaka:

Grasshopper dealers in Masaka District have said Kampala Capital City Authority executive director, Jennifer Musisi should apologise to them for saying they use insecticide to catch the insects.

Addressing journalists in Masaka Town last Saturday Mr Yusuf Kakande, the secretary grasshopper dealers, said Ms Musisi owed them an apology for having falsely insinuated that they catch grasshoppers using dangerous chemicals.

“….we cannot use poison to catch grasshoppers. Ms Musisi owes us an apology and in future she should consult us when commenting on the matter,” he said.
He also said no one had been arrested in Maska District in connection with using insecticide to catch grasshoppers.

“Anyone spreading that rumour should come out and show us the police station or any other place where they are being held. Otherwise we are not aware of any such arrests,” he said.

Last week on Thursday, Ms Musisi was quoted in this newspaper, saying she doubted the safety of the methods that were being used to catch grasshoppers.
She said whereas they [KCCA] had not banned the sale of grasshoppers on Kampala streets, they were concerned of the health of the people who consume them.

“…we hear some grasshopper dealers use insecticides to catch them which is dangerous to people’s lives,” she said.

Kampala is the main market for grasshoppers and the claims are likely to negatively affect dealers.
Mr Kuraish Katongole, the national chairperson of grasshopper dealers, said Ms Musisi needed to exercise caution considering that she had not conducted any research in relation to the methods they use.

“The methods we use to catch grasshoppers are well known. We can’t catch grasshoppers using insecticide,” he said.