NEWS: Deadly weed invaded Uganda

A lady with wounds caused by the weed, left, seen growing in Busia spreads to 12 districts, kills animals, harms people

Friday, 13th March, 2009 from NEW VISION

AN alien weed that harms human beings, kills livestock and chokes crops has invaded Uganda. Congress weed, scientifically known as Parthenium hysterophorus, has been seen rapidly multiplying in several spots especially along the highway across Uganda from Busia and to Kabale. Dr. Gad Gumisiriza, head of the invasive species project in the agriculture ministry, said the weed has so far been detected in at least 12 districts. “This is a very aggressive weed which requires quick response. If you delay it can grow and get out of hand.” The most affected areas are Busiu along the Tororo-Mbale highway and Busia border town, each having over two acres of the weed. In Busia, a charcoal burner got a severe skin reaction and only improved after being hospitalised. Other affected areas include Karengare in Kabale district, Mbarara town, Bugembe town council near Jinja, Ibanda, Namutumba along Tirinyi road, Busesa in Iganga district, Namulemba in Bugiri district and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese district. At Makerere University Kampala and Masaka town, two decorators were found growing congress weed as flowers without knowing it is a dangerous alien species. Witchdoctors also use the plant to invoke evil spirits, Gumisiriza said. Saturday Vision recently saw two herbal gardens in Bugembe where diviners have planted the weed. One of the diviners, Despite looking beautiful and smelling sweet, congress weed is among the world’s 10 most dangerous weeds. On contact with the human body, it causes a burning effect that can peel off the skin. Human beings who inhale pollen from the flowers can get an asthma-like illness or persistent flu-like symptoms. Cattle that eat it produce foul-smelling milk or even die. Gumisiriza said the weed can reduce maize yield by 40-60%. It can also reduce the amount of pasture in a grazing area by 90%. The congress weed is thought to have been introduced into Uganda from Mexico through Ethiopia and Kenya. It accidentally got to Ethiopia through relief grain imported from Mexico during the great famine that hit the Horn of Africa in the mid 1980s. It is dispersed mainly by long distance trucks, rivers, water streams and storm water (floods). The Jinja district production and marketing officer, Dr. Stephen Kiwemba, was shocked by how fast the weed multiplied in Bugembe. “When we came here in December, the seedlings were not as many as you can now see,” said Kiwemba. The weed can grow to the height of an adult and produce tens of thousands of seeds in one to two months. The seeds germinate easily but if the ground is not moist, it can remain viable (able to germinate) for up to 20 years. “The situation may not be as simple as we had earlier thought,” said Kiwemba. “We are headed to decline in agricultural productivity, food insecurity and poverty will set in as a result.” Nalongo Zamu Mukoda, said the weed resembles another local herb known as buza. She said they had turned to the new weed because the indigenous look-alike is getting extinct. So far, Kiwemba has organised a meeting in Bugembe to create awareness about the weed. But despite mobilisation by LCs, the locals are reluctant to attack the weed, except if it grows around their homes. A group of boda boda riders at Bugembe told Saturday Vision that they could not stop their money-minting routines to go uprooting the weed. LC1 chief for Katende West in Budumbuli-Bugembe, Siraje Kisuule said for better results the Government should provide funding to fight the menace. “It is important to intervene today instead of waiting until the problem is out of hand,” said Kisuule. In Busia, the communities are organising to pluck off the weed and caution children not to touch it. Kiyemba points out that while such local efforts are useful, controlling the weed requires a massive national programme. “The problem is that people are not looking at it as an issue. But if we remain reluctant it will become a bigger problem.” Agriculture ministry officials agree with Kiyemba. According to Gumisiriza, the ministry is planning to deal with the weed using chemical spraying, uprooting it and bugs to kill the weed. “We have prepared a programme to spray the weed in key areas. We have also contacted Kenya to see how we can handle the weed in the no man’s land at Busia border,” he said. “In the meantime, we are going to keep monitoring and creating awareness about the dangers of the weed.”