Deputy Speaker Tayebwa Roots for Indigenous Agricultural Advancements Over GMO Legislation

In his recent visit to the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, urged scientists to prioritize enhancing indigenous seeds and animal breeds rather than pushing for the proposed Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) law. Emphasizing the importance of preserving Uganda’s competitive edge in high-quality organic products, Tayebwa cautioned against jeopardizing the market for local goods. He further urged NARO scientists to learn from the European Union’s ban on GMOs, emphasizing the need to protect the organic foods market from potential risks associated with genetically modified organisms.

Despite his reservations about the GMO Bill, Tayebwa commended NARO for its progress in various agricultural research fields, urging the organization to commercialize innovations for wider impact.

A GMO is an animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

However, the deputy speaker asked NARO to go slow on the proposed law and warned against killing the market for Ugandan products.

“Instead of pushing for the law to legalise GMOs put focus on improving the quality of our indigenous products…our competitive advantage as a country, is in high quality organic products not GMOS,” Mr Tayebwa said.

In that Bill, explained: “We said let us introduce a strict liability clause so that you (the scientists) are liable when your products cause a problem, you refused because you want to adulterate our organic products.”

He added: “If you want to give us a GMO, there must be a liability clause.”

Mr Tayebwa said this while responding to Prof William Olaho Mukani, the NARO Governing Council Chairman’s request to Parliament to consider the National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, commonly known as the GMO Bill, which has not been enactment into law since 2012.

“This Bill has been up and down for long,” Prof Mukani observed before he complained that the people who think they know science more than the scientists are why they are confusing the botched Bill.

Mr Tayebwa cautioned the scientists at NARO against being lured into the trap of liabilities resulting into legal battles by copying scientists in the western countries who have started facing consequences for the negative impacts by the GMOs.

He advised that Ugandan scientists to find out why the European Union (EU) member states banned GMO products. He explained that the reason for EU ban was meant to protect the organic foods market from the dangers of GMOS.

“These GMO companies are losing a lot of cases after researchers established that the so-called improved products cause cancer. PLE NARO, we say, don’t be influenced by western research to destroy our indigenous products. How come all countries in Europe don’t allow GMOs and then you want us to have it in Uganda? This is?not right and as scientists you must reconsider your stand on GMOS before it’s too late.”

The deputy speaker however commended NARO for the progress made in other agricultural research fields such as animal feeds and seeds varieties that have been developed over the years. Mr Tayebwa said this a sign that there is value for money appropriated by Parliament.

He also applauded Agriculture Minister, Frank Tumwebaze for transforming the sector by working closely with scientists to ensure the country receives the best animal breeds and seed varieties, an opportunity that now needs to be taken to the commercial stage.

“The Minister of Agriculture at last has helped us. Your journey through agriculture is really true, not that other people were incompetent but see a lot of transformation here. I have not seen any organization that is organised and welcoming like NARO.” he said.

“My coming here is a clear pledge of support. The moment we are food secure and people are making money through agriculture, then the economy will also grow.”

However, Minister Frank Tumwebaze applauded the deputy speaker for the visit and explained that money appropriated to scientists is self-accounting because the outputs of such efforts and innovations cannot be audited only on paper but physically as the case is with the work done at NARO.

The minister reiterated that the scientists have always taken their time on research in order to come out with best products like seeds and animal breeds which take not less than nine months to come forth.

“These scientists enjoy working quietly, that is how the ecosystem of researchers works. Here at NARO we have 16 products which can represent 16 industry lines. Perhaps, the Uganda Investment Authority doesn’t know that we have various porotypes (original models) and guide the investors to come and invest in these lines” he said.