Legislators oppose use of DDT in Malaria fight

Legislators in the 10th parliament have vowed to oppose President Yoweri Museveni's proposal to reintroduce the spraying of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) as one of the strategies to eliminate Malaria in the country.

President Museveni made the remark on Thursday as he flagged off a government initiative to fight Malaria in Uganda under the Mass Action Against Malaria (MAAM) programme. Museveni was addressing health officials and legislators under the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Malaria (UPFM).

Museveni said that government may adopt spraying of DDT to combat the spread of Malaria despite opposition by some politicians and civil groups. He accused the MPs against the use of DDT of ignorance and spreading lies among the public.

Museveni's remarks came after health minister Dr Ruth Aceng's revelation that the ministry expects to spend 350 billion Ugandan shillings in indoor spraying to kill female Anopheles mosquitoes that help spread Malaria.

But some Members of Parliament have vowed to block the government program.

Igara East MP Michael Mawanda Maranga said, "DDT has effects on our agricultural products and if it’s applied, we shall not even export our products. There are other ways we can use in fighting Malaria but use of DDT will have far reaching consequences to our economy and we have to support something which has no side effects to the economy".

Nakaseke South MP Luttamaguzi Ssemakula claimed that, "It's only in Africa that DDT is being used to fight Malaria. Government has not invested in scientists who can invent the cure for Malaria. President Museveni should stop misleading the country on the matter because he only studied Political Science."

Busongora South MP William Nzoghu accused President Museveni of picking up the spraying of DDT to fight Malaria out of excitement yet, "Scientists have conducted research and said DDT is not friendly to humans".