ALLAFRICA 23 FEB 2020
Uganda response team on desert locusts has received an aircraft from the Desert Locust Control Organisation of East Africa (DLCO-EA) to help fight swarms of locusts that have invaded the country.
The aircraft landed in Moroto airstrip on Friday evening after undergoing servicing in Nairobi the day before, according to officials on the team.
Mr Evarist Magara, the Uganda representative for DLCO-EA, said the aircraft will be used for surveillance and aerial spray operations.
Mr. Magara said the organization has been central in helping Uganda respond to other invasive pests such as fall armyworm in 2017.
“DLCO-EA supports Ugandan government in control of migratory pests such as armyworm, tsetse fly and quelea birds that eat food grains in the gardens among others,” he said.
Mr. Musa Ecweru, the State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness told Sunday Monitor in a telephone interview that he was to officially receive the aircraft yesterday.
