B4FA Fellow Henry Lutaaya reports:
A number of scientists have expressed shock and anger at the proposed restrictive requirements that were included in the long-awaited law on Biotechnology with some labelling them a disaster and a huge setback for the country.
The angry reactions come in the wake of a new report that was recently tabled in Parliament by Eng. Kafeero Ssekitooleko, the Chairperson of the Science and Technology Committee to address concerns raised by President Yoweri Museveni in a later he sent to Parliament to explain why he declined to assent to the Biosafety Act 2017.
Clet Wandui Masiga, the Director of Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI), a science policy think tank, criticised recommendations that seek to imprison anyone including farmers and scientists for any intended and unintended adverse effects of a product of Genetic Engineering.
“If adopted, the law is going to stifle our efforts as scientists to advance our work for the benefit of Ugandans and the entire world. For example, on Penalties, they have removed the word ‘Deliberately’ to extend the scope of responsibility for any errors that may arise in the process of growing the crops. Read more