Experts in crop production have decried the unregulated use of pesticides and herbicides on Uganda’s farmlands, warning that it is slowly poisoning the very soil that feeds us and putting our lives at risk.
They have sounded an alarm, that prolonged exposure to these agrochemicals is not only endangering human lives and intoxicating our soils, but also accelerating environmental degradation and jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of food production.
Chronic toxicity linked to these chemicals is contributing to soil depletion, water pollution, and reduced agricultural yields due to increasing pest resistance.
As Uganda strives for a modern and prosperous future by 2040—as highlighted in the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV), which prioritizes commercial agriculture, experts caution that the unchecked use of hazardous agrochemicals could significantly derail this national vision.
Recent assessments indicate that synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides have led to alarming environmental consequences. Water bodies and soils are increasingly contaminated, while beneficial organisms crucial to maintaining ecosystem functions such as pollinators are being eradicated.
In a 2020 rapid assessment by the Association of Uganda Professional Women in Agriculture and Environment (AUPWAE), it was found that farmers frequently apply pesticides and synthetic fertilizers on at least ten different crops per season, particularly in the central and eastern regions.
In most districts, glyphosate-linked herbicides like roundup, and other highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), are widely used on maize, groundnuts, beans, cowpeas and other crops. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 59% of the 41 HHPs registered for use in Uganda are currently banned in the European Union due to their high toxicity levels.
Despite the existence of regulatory frameworks in Uganda such as the Agricultural Chemicals (Control) Act of 2006, which mandates the registration and control of agricultural chemicals, enforcement remains weak. Experts argue that regulatory agencies have failed to curb the influx of dangerous agrochemicals into the market, leaving smallholder farmers vulnerable to misinformation from chemical manufacturers.
For instance, glyphosate linked agrochemicals like roundup and other pesticides which are extremely dangerous to both the environment and human health continue to be imported in Uganda, and used widely, despite the available data, indicating that it increases the risk of cancer in humans.
Kaddu Gonzaga, an agribusiness specialist working with the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights asserts that most small-scale farmers are unfamiliar with the proper use of protective equipment, which puts their health at high risk of being harmed by agrochemical exposure.
He says that glyphosate-based chemicals are classified as highly hazardous and probably carcinogenic by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Speaking at the recently concluded second Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference at Grand Argyle Hotel in Nairobi, Hilal Elver, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, decried the widespread use of HHPs in low-income countries, despite overwhelming evidence of their harmful effects.
“The WHO and FAO have identified HHPs as a major risk due to acute and chronic toxicity, environmental persistence, and adverse effects on beneficial organisms. Shockingly, 95% of pesticide-related poisonings occur in low-income countries because these chemicals remain unbanned,” Elver emphasized.
Sustainable Alternatives
Amid growing concerns, experts have proposed sustainable alternatives to revive the nation’s endangered food systems, innovative solutions have emerged, such as the use of compost and green manures, which offer long-term benefits to soil health by supplying nitrogen and other essential nutrients to subsequent crops, preventing the leaching of soluble nutrients, providing ground cover to protect soil structure, and drawing nutrients up from deeper soil layers.
Besides, fermented human urine contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—key nutrients that are essential for plant growth. When diluted appropriately, it can serve as a highly effective fertilizer that promotes plant health and enhances crop yield. It also acts as a pesticide due to its high urea content, which can help reduce pest infestations naturally, without the need for harmful chemicals.
Ggwayambadde Fred Mukasa, a smallholder farmer in Kasaana village Nyendo-Mukungwe division in Masaka city, who has practiced agroecology for years, in an interview noted that traditional farming methods that rely on organic and natural inputs are far more sustainable.
“Our ancestors understood that covering grass with soil rather than spraying chemicals preserved soil fertility. Today, we are in a hurry, using herbicides that kill everything, even the microorganisms that sustain the soil. It is a dangerous path,” he cautioned.
Expert Perspective on Agrochemicals and Sustainable Agriculture Interviewed for this publication, Stephen Katende Serunjogi, a principal technician at Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), pointed out that most smallholder farmers lack knowledge on proper fertilizer and pesticide application, noting that organic alternatives are the most ideal in crop production.
“Soil fertility tests are crucial before applying fertilizers. Without them, farmers misuse synthetic fertilizers, resulting in poor soil health. Organic manure and natural fertilizers offer better long-term benefits by improving nutrient retention and microbial activity in the soil,” he noted.
Serunjogi emphasized that organic solutions help rejuvenate soil structure, aeration, and nutrient retention, ensuring sustainability in agricultural production.
“The misconception that only synthetic fertilizers can boost yields must be corrected. Organic inputs improve soil resilience and foster long-term productivity,” he added.
Uganda must strengthen enforcement of existing regulations, invest in farmer education on alternative methods. These could help mitigate the dangers posed by synthetic chemicals.
The estimated scientists did not offer any alternatives to pesticides, herbicides and fungicides that even market vendors are using to preserve their tomatoes.