Civil Society Backs Museveni’s GMO Bill

Museveni’s refusal to assent the National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill has gained support from a range of Uganda’s Civil Society.

In his most recent objection to the Bill, Museveni noted that “The issue of GMOs and genetic modification of our seeds, livestock and now, I hear GMO mosquitoes, touches not only on science, but agriculture, ecology, food and national security and indeed the sovereignty of our nation. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that we proceed with caution and include the necessary safeguards in this law,” 

The President has outlined that the Bill is problematic because it does not outline that the inventor of genetic materials should be held liable for any harm those products go on to cause.

He suggested that the law should address the matter of mixing GMO material and non-GMO seed materials.

Mr Museveni wants parliament to clearly spell out isolation measures for greenhouses and isolation distance applicable for persons or organisations involved in genetic material research and production.

On Wednesday joint statement that was presented by Ms Barbara Ntambirweki, a research fellow under the Trade, Innovations and Biotechnology Policy Programme at ACODE, says that Parliament should be considerate of the impact of GMO materials on Uganda’s farming system.