Regional Update
Scientists challenged on GMOs By Peter Wamboga-Mugirya
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cientists have to take a lead in consuming genetically-modified (GM) crops, to convince the public that such food contains no harm as believed. The Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Eng. Hillary Onek issued the challenge at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories Institute (NARLI) at Kawanda, where GM banana plantlets are growing in a greenhouse and in confined field trials strictly under research. “You have to lead by example and consume these crops when they mature and bear fruits, so that the rest of us can have confidence. When you do this, you will have totally dispelled fears and doomsday speculators, who claim GM foods are harmful,” Onek said shortly after he officially commissioned the UShs 800m state-of-the-art Biosafety Level II Greenhouse at the NARLI.
It is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSP II) which is managed by the US-based Cornell University [College of Agriculture and Life Sciences]. Dr Andrew Kiggundu, one of the leading molecular scientists heading the National Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (NABC), and Dr Tilahun Zeweldu [East African Regional Advisor to ABSP II) told the guests who included NARO Director-General Dr Denis Kyetere, that during research work, scientists ensure there is no toxicity or harmful matter in the genes they insert during genetic engineering. “After we have engineered a plant, we continuously carry out tests on it as it grows, to gauge toxicity levels that are tolerable for human consumption when it finally yields fruits,” Kiggundu said pointing at the healthylooking plants.
“This particular GM banana (gros michel or bogoya),” he added, “has been inserted with a gene-enzyme from rice called chitinase. We are evaluating it here and in the CFT against its resistance to black sigatoka disease.” The Minister, however hailed Dr Andrew Kiggundu and his colleagues (among them Dr. Geoffrey Arinaitwe, Dr Josephine Namaganda, Dr. Leena Tripathi and Dr Wilberforce Tushemereirwe) for the impressive research work on the banana using biotechnology and conventional means to fight the crop’s destructive pests and diseases. Uganda produces 15 per cent of the world’s bananas/plantains and 7million Ugandans consider banana a staple crop, including 65 per cent of the urban population. 75 per cent of Ugandan farmers grow the crop on 1.3 million hectares
Rural Electrification Agency Promotes Environmentally Friendly Electrification The Rural Electrification Agency started its operations in 2003 having been established by Statutory Instrument No. 75 of 2001. Vision: REA’s vision is “Universal access to electricity by 2035” Mission: REA’s mission is “To facilitate the provision of electricity for social – economic rural transformation in an equitable and sustainable manner”. Goal: Our medium term goal is to achieve 10% rural electrification by 2012. Objectives The main objectives of REA include among others: • To facilitate and manage the realization of at 10% rural electrification by 2012. • Undertake the basic planning and preparation of projects determined by the Board as eligible for support under the Rural Electrification Fund (REF). • Generate and provide information relating to investment opportunities, costs and benefits of renewable energy and rural electrification projects and avail technical and financial support programmes to all stakeholders. • Undertake government priority rural electrification projects. • Prepare annual status reports on the rural electrification programme indicating progress and identifying obstacles as well as options for mitigating those obstacles.
Environmental Management The Rural Electrification Agency has developed an Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF) field manual that provides the necessary direction for addressing environmental requirements to all stakeholders involved in any project. All projects must comply with environmental and social policies of the Government of Uganda and/or the donor agencies. The projects undergo an environmental impact assessment in accordance with the requirements of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). With the ESMF, REA has a monitoring process to observe and check the progress, quality and/or performance against given impact. Aware of the causes of global warming and climate change, the Rural Electrification Agency advances the following renewable energy technologies that have much lower environmental impact than the conventional energy technologies. These are:1) Hydropower 2) Biomass 3) Solar energy 4) Biofuels 5) Geothermal
Plot 1 Pilkington Road, 10th floor, Workers House. P.O. Box 7317 Kampala, Uganda. Tel: 256-312-264095, Fax: 256-41-346013, E-mail: rea@rea.or.og, Website: www.rea.or.ug
EnviroConserveAFRICA Aug/Oct 2008
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