By Alice Lubwama
The speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga has directed the budget committee of parliament chaired by Ntenjeru North MP Amos Lugolobi to find money for handling the new weed that has emerged on Uganda’s lakes.
Kadaga made the directive following plea by the agriculture minister Vincent ssempijja to get him funds urgently to control the kabira weed that has seriously covered Lake Kyoga before it reaches unmanageable levels.
Kadaga asked MPs to get angry and force government to find money to control the spreading of this weed because it’s dangerous.
Ministry of agriculture animal industry and fisheries requires an emergency fund of four billion shillings to maintain and operate the existing equipment to respond to abrupt resurgences of the weed on the lakes.
Sempijja informed parliament that the existing equipment at the ministry cannot handle the kabira weed that is currently affecting the water bodies unless it’s in succession with the water hyacinth and other aquatic plants.
He further noted that government still lacks the adequate human and machinery to address the challenges posed by the kariba weed.