Amuru | When Majorine Akello, 38, goes to buy food at the market, she carefully chooses what to take home. A mother of two and a medical worker, Akello says she worries about the invisible chemicals on the fruits and vegetables sold in local markets.
“I always wash and peel my tomatoes and vegetables before using them because I know the dangers of these chemicals,” she says. “I can’t risk the lives of my children.”
Akello believes many people are unaware of how harmful farm chemicals can be and says community sensitisation could save lives. As a small-scale farmer herself, she prefers traditional farming methods that don’t rely on pesticides.
“If people knew the side effects of these chemicals and were taught safer alternatives, many lives would be saved,” she says.
For many Ugandan farmers, agriculture is the main source of income. But some, like Samson Opio, admit that most farmers prioritise quick profits over safety.
“Many farmers only focus on how much they’ll earn from the harvest, not the harm caused by the chemicals they use,” Opio says.
Adding that, “I always wear gumboots, overalls, and a mask while spraying, but most farmers in villages don’t. They are ignorant about the dangers.”
A growing food safety crisis
According to Bwambale Bernard, the National Coordinator of the Food Safety Coalition, pesticide misuse among farmers is widespread.
“Most farmers do not read or follow safety instructions printed on the product labels; they spray without protective gear or ignore harvest intervals, putting both themselves and consumers at risk,” Bwambale noted.
A recent study found high pesticide residues on tomatoes sold in local markets. Peeling reduced the chemical levels by 69%, washing with warm water by 39%, and cold water by 30%. But even after cleaning, traces of toxic chemicals remained.
Tests also found these same toxins in the blood, sweat, and urine of farmers—clear evidence of long-term exposure.
Experts warn that Uganda is facing a serious food safety problem. Nearly 68% of registered pesticides in Uganda are classified as highly hazardous. Many are banned in other countries because they are linked to cancer, genetic defects, and other chronic illnesses.
“We are slowly poisoning ourselves; the government must strengthen regulations and promote organic and agroecological farming.” Bwambale says.
Ignoring the waiting period
Ambejja Ambrose, an agronomist disclosed that many farmers harvest crops too soon after spraying.
“When crops are harvested before the pre-harvest interval, consumers eat food with residues that haven’t yet broken down,” he explains. “Over time, these chemicals accumulate in the body and can cause diseases, including cancer.”
He adds that while government plans to phase out dangerous chemicals are welcome, more training and awareness campaigns are needed to ensure farmers adopt safe practices.
A 2023 Ministry of Health report showed Uganda records about 1.3 million cases of food-borne illnesses annually, accounting for 14% of all hospital cases. The report also warned of rising aflatoxin contamination and increasing liver cancer cases linked to unsafe food.
Hakim Baliraine, National Chairperson of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF), is calling for farmers to embrace agroecology—a farming approach that works with nature instead of relying on chemicals.
“These traditional methods protect the soil, water, and farmers’ health,” he says. “It may take time to phase out pesticides, but through advocacy and awareness, people will realise the health and environmental costs of chemical use.”
Baliraine warns that unregulated spraying and agro-input sales are destroying soil organisms and reducing crop productivity. “Promoting agroecology will ensure safer food, better health, and a sustainable environment,” he says.
Finding balance
Lwandasa Hannington, an entomologist from NARO advises farmers to use pesticides only when absolutely necessary.
“We cannot stop farmers from spraying, but they should only spray when pests reach an economic threshold; routine spraying is harmful and unnecessary,” he disclosed.
Hannington also links pest resurgence to environmental destruction, such as wetland and forest clearance. Restoring vegetation, he says, provides natural habitats for pests and reduces their invasion of farms.
He further recommends using organic fertilisers like animal manure and safer pesticides to improve crop health. “Healthy crops are more resilient and less likely to be attacked by pests,” he adds.
Hannington appeals to the government to invest more in research and develop locally made environmentally friendly pesticides to promote food safety and reduce dependence on imported toxic chemicals.
As Uganda continues to rely on agriculture as its backbone, the growing misuse of chemicals poses a silent but deadly health threat. From farmers’ fields to dinner tables, harmful residues are making their way into the food chain.
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