The World Bank Group has announced that it has approved a USD 48 million (about Shs181 billion) to help Uganda fight the desert locusts
Since February this year, at least 24 districts in 6 sub-regions of Acholi, Karamoja, Lango, Sebei, Teso and Bugisu have been attacked by the locusts.
The money is just slightly below the USD 50 million loans that Uganda had sought to borrow from the bank to deal with desert locusts.
For the desert locusts, the World Bank cites an assessment carried out by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) in Karamoja and Teso, showing that it would cost between $12 million and $42 million to safeguard and restore livelihoods if surveillance and locust management measures are lacking or ineffective.
The World Bank says the money will aid in formulation the Emergency Locust Response Program to help Uganda monitor and manage locust swarms to limit the growth of existing and new desert locust populations.
Tony Thompson, World Bank Uganda Country Manager, said "The locust invasion could coincide with the start of the planting season, which will likely affect the main staple crop production and the regeneration of grasslands for livestock feeds."
