MPs Warn of Monkeypox Threat as Monkey Invasion Escalates in Kampala and Wakiso

Summary:

• Christine Kaaya, the Woman MP for Kiboga District, asked what measures the Ministry of Agriculture has in place to procure drugs used to control the monkey population, as it is the only authorized agency to do so.

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KAMPALA: Members of Parliament have expressed concern over the growing number of monkeys in Kampala and Wakiso, warning that their presence increases the risk of spreading Monkeypox.

MPs said they now fear leaving food outside their homes due to frequent monkey thefts.

The issue was raised by Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi, who attributed the influx of monkeys to widespread deforestation in these areas, leaving the animals without natural habitats.

“We have cut down trees in Kampala and Wakiso, especially in my neighborhood and even my own home. As a result, the monkeys have nowhere to live and are now moving into people’s compounds, where they are stealing food left outside, like bananas,” Muwanga said.

He added that despite efforts by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to address the situation, the monkeys remain a persistent problem.

“My neighbors and I called the Uganda Wildlife Authority for help, and an officer advised us to install alarm bells to scare the monkeys away. But even with the alarms, the monkeys refuse to leave. With the threat of Monkeypox, it is urgent for urban centers to find a solution,” Muwanga emphasized.

Christine Kaaya, the Woman MP for Kiboga District, asked what measures the Ministry of Agriculture has in place to procure drugs used to control the monkey population, as it is the only authorized agency to do so.

She explained that in Kiboga, monkeys have devastated crops and forced some villages to abandon farming altogether.

“When forests are cut and water sources dry up, monkeys start living among us. It’s illegal to kill them, and many districts lack entomologists. The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for importing the drug that kills monkeys. We need to know the status of this,” Kaaya said. “In Kiboga, monkeys share water sources with people, and in some villages, farming has been abandoned because the monkeys consume everything.”

In response, Speaker Anita Among called on the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, to address Parliament on the status of Monkeypox in Uganda and provide guidelines on how the public can protect themselves.

“I’ve been following the news about Monkeypox, and I think the Ministry of Health needs to release a statement on the current situation and provide clear guidelines for managing this,” said Among.

She also urged MPs to raise public awareness about the threat of Monkeypox.

“The Minister responsible for wildlife (Martin Mugarra, State Minister for Tourism) is here, so we expect statements from both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism. But as leaders, it’s also your responsibility to inform your constituents about the danger and ensure they are vigilant.” She said.

Uganda confirmed its first cases of Monkeypox on July 24, 2024, with two patients from Kasese District identified at Bwera Hospital through routine surveillance by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).

As of October 11, 2024, the country has reported 91 confirmed cases across 11 districts.