Uganda impounded large amount of fake agrochemical

Inspectors from the crop protection department at the agriculture ministry have impounded fake and expired drugs and chemicals estimated at sh20 million.

The operation, which took place recently around Nakivubo place in Kampala, was headed by Joseph Bazaale, the principal agricultural inspector at the National Seed Certification Services at the ministry.

"This and a lot of other expired drugs and chemicals were found on the shelves where unsuspecting farmers get them," he said. According to Bazaale, other chemicals were meant for flower farms and not supposed to be on the shelves.

Inspecting the premises, he added, was intended to assess the level of compliance by the traders. Bazaale explained that some chemicals were dangerous to both the crops and human beings while the fake seeds fail to yield anything, causing losses to farmers.

"We have of late trained and sensitised traders in this area about the proper handling of such chemicals for their own good," he said. During the operation, unregistered chemicals from Kenya and unregistered seeds were also confiscated. The traders are expected to have only drugs and chemicals registered and certified by the agriculture ministry.

Stephen Byantwale, a senior agricultural inspector, said he came across many empty packing papers which traders use to repackage fake products. Byantwale advised the traders to register with the ministry to learn repackaging processes.

"Some of these chemicals lose capacity to do what they are supposed to do after careless exposure," he explained. Among the confiscated drugs was Dithane M45, used on tomatoes, which has not been manufactured for some years.