Posted on March, 23, 2017 at 10:39 am
President Yoweri Museveni has asked parliament to pass the Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill 2012, commonly known as the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Bill into Law.
According to Museveni, those opposing the Bill, which was introduced during the Ninth Parliament and shelved to the tenth Parliament are not informed about the importance of the law. Two months ago, I called the NRM parliamentary caucus and told them about the importance of this law, and I am sure they are going to pass the law because some people are not informed; they are just going by rumors,” Museveni said. Speaking to journalists at his Kawum demonstration farm,Museveni noted that with introduction of GMos, Ugandans would traditionally practice it through cross-breeding of their animals.
According to the Anti-GMO crusaders, the use of GMOs impacts on the ecosystem, including extinction of indigenous foods, pest resistence and emergence OF EVASIVE WEEDS.
However scrutinizing the bill yesterday, with the members of human rights movement, the Parliamentary committee on science and technolog, which is currently considering the Bill, backed the law saying it would promote food security in the country.
During the Ninth Parliament, people said we do not need the law because we would be bringing GMOs in the country. But following our interactions with different stakeholders, it is now clear, we need the law,” Kafeero Sekitoleko, the committee chairperson said. Apperaing before the committee yesterday, human rights groups including Uganda Human Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Human Rights Network Uganda also supported the passing of the Bill into Law, but with a call for amendments to some of the proposals in the Bill.
In their presentations, the rights bodies said there is need to create agricultural zones in the country where GMos can be implemented. Patrick Tumwine the advocacy officer HURINET- U added that, “with zoning, people will have to lose all our indigenous organic foods which are expensive.”
The national Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill provides for the testing and use of GMOs in the country as well as updating the national focal point on matters relating to Biotechnology and biosafety.
The bill further prescribes standards relating to the development of GMOs, advises the Government on issues of biotechnology and co-ordinates the roles of the lead agencies in relation to the handling of GMos. However, Betty Engoola one of the committee members expressed reservations about the bill saying if passed into law, it would rid Uganda of her natural foods in 20 to 30years to come.
In its current form, the Bill provides that a person shall not release of GMOs without approval under the law.