DESERT LOCUST OUTBREAK SITUATION UPDATE MARCH 2020 LOCUST UPSURGE BACKGROUND METHODOLOGY Since the beginning of July 2019, swarms of Desert Locust originating from Yemen have been infesting farmland The main objective of the situation update is to inform humanitarian organizations, aid agencies and donors on and rangeland of Horn of Africa and East Africa countries. Ethiopia and Somalia have been experiencing the most current status of the locust infestation in Uganda. ACTED conducted four key informant interviews (KIIs) in severe locust outbreak over 25 years and Kenya over 70 years. Neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania Nakapiripirit and Moroto districts of Karamoja sub-county (Northern Uganda). One of the KIs was District Veterinary and South Sudan also had locust outbreaks in early 2020. Without appropriate and timely prevention and control Officer from Nakapiripirit, two were Animal Production Officers from Moroto and Nakapiripirit, and one was a FAO measures, desert locusts can have devastating impact on vegetation areas, livestock, and to people and staff based in Karamoja. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires used for data collection between 12 of economies that are heavily dependent on agriculture and pastoral livelihood activities. February and 25 of February 2020.

LOCUST OUTBREAK IN UGANDA KEY FINDINGS CAPACITIES AND NEEDS Since the desert locust upsurge in the region, started in mid-2019, IMPACT ON LIVELIHOODS FAO is in the process of procuring equipment for locust control, such as knapsack two locust swarms recently spread into Uganda via Kenya, where sprayers, GPS devices, protection gears and chemicals. FAO is also monitoring areas Due to lack of rains, assessed areas were already dry with limited it was first reported in December 2019. infested with locust eggs, training government extension staff from MAAIF and vegetation, which resulted in minimum locust damage to vegetation raising awareness in Karamoja level. Surveillance activities are ongoing. All three so far. The impact of locust swarms on the communities’ livelihoods The first desert locust swarm wave arrived in Uganda on 9 local authority KIs mentioned need for capacity building of local staff at district and has not been alarming so far in Uganda, mainly because the locust February 2020, from Loima constituency of Turkana County sub-region level, supporting of coordination efforts and raising awareness of the outbreak is very recent in the country and there were not substantial (Kenya), and into Northern Uganda Karamoja sub-region. The farmers and pastorals. After hatching of the eggs, in case the locust outbreak could amount of crops in the fields infested with locusts by the time of the locust swarm flew through Alakas sub-county in not be contained, farmers and pastorals will suffer consequences to their livelihood outbreaks. and settled in Kakamongole in . In a few days, assets. In such scenario, farmers and pastorals will be in need of livelihood assets the locusts spread into Moroto, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Napak PROSPECTIVES AND RISKS preservation activities. and Abim districts of Karamoja. Within a week, it further moved First swarm of locusts have laid eggs on the Ugandan side of the into parts of Eastern Uganda Teso sub-region and Northern border. Eggs will start hatching first half of March. Considering the RECOMMENDATIONS Uganda Kitgum sub-region. The first wave of locusts was observed rainy season is coming up and therefore increase in vegetation is Provision of support to ongoing locust control operation to lay egg in the Ugandan side of the border. expected, environmental situation will be conducive for locust breeding. The second wave of swarms was observed on 26 February, Capacity building trainings to locust response committee staffs entering the country from (Karamoja) and moving PREVENTION AND CONTROL into Napak and Abim districts, as well as Otuke district of Lango Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Awareness raising activities for the communities sub-region on Northern Uganda. Uganda People’s Defense Forces and Office of Prime Minister (OPM) are coordinating locust control and prevention measures. Disaster According to latest FAO update (2 March), no new locust swarms management committees are established at district level by local Preservation of pastors’ livelihood assets/livestock arrival is reported in Uganda since 24 February. authorities, and requesting UN Agencies’ and NGOs’ support to execute the already developed emergency plans for Nakapiripirit and Preservation of farmers’ livelihood assets/agricultural inputs Moroto districts.

Jean Baptiste Heral For further information, Country Director please contact: [email protected]