A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has called on the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to ban hazardous pesticides across the region, warning that continued use of toxic chemicals threatens crops, public health, and biodiversity.
The petition was presented during a benchmarking visit to Nansubuga Farm in Mukono, a model for organic and agroecological farming.
Participating organizations included CEFROTH, Slow Food, FIAN Uganda, Seed Savers Network Kenya, and the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), among others.
The delegation used the visit to demonstrate to lawmakers that environmentally friendly farming methods are both viable and urgently needed.
David Kabanda, an agroecology expert, highlighted the gap in regional policy supporting sustainable agriculture.
“Foreign companies dealing in hybrid seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides continue to enjoy wide protection, while farmers who want to adopt agroecology lack a policy foundation. These products eventually lead to non-communicable diseases,” he said.
Concerns were also raised about chemical-dependent fish cage farming. Shafiq Kagimu, an aquaculture expert from FIAN Uganda, warned that chemicals used to prevent diseases and accelerate fish growth in cages endanger native fish species in natural lakes.
Jane Nansubuga, host and agroecologist, shared her experience running a fully organic 10-acre farm. Using natural pest controls such as cow and pig urine mixed with red pepper extracts and animal droppings to enrich the soil, she reported impressive yields.
“The yields are amazing,” she said, attributing productivity to organic methods.
Bernard Bwambale from the Food Safety Coalition of Uganda noted that several agrochemicals banned by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization are still widely used in East Africa.
“These chemicals have been linked to cancers, reproductive disorders, and have disrupted pollination, contributing to declining crop yields,” he said.
Dr. Million Belay, General Coordinator of AFSA, emphasized that despite the region’s fertile soils, East African countries continue to import large quantities of food.
“Stronger efforts are needed to promote agroecology and food sovereignty,” he said.
Responding to the petition, Gideon Gatpan, Chairperson of the EALA Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources, assured the CSOs that legislators share their concerns.
“We represent the people, and their welfare is central to our mandate. We shall continue engaging with partners to support sustainable farming across the region,” Gatpan said.
The move builds on a 2024 EALA resolution urging member states to promote agroecology as a strategy for food security and sovereignty.
Civil society leaders hope that the latest petition will accelerate the adoption of regional policies restricting hazardous pesticides and fostering safer, environmentally sustainable farming practices.
