Tsetse Invasion as an Emerging Threat to Socioecological Resilience of Pastoral Communities in Karamoja, Uganda

Anthony Egeru, Joseph Opio, Aggrey Siya, Bernard Barasa, John Paul Magaya and Justine J. Namaalwa
Additional contact information
Anthony Egeru: Training and Community Development, Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), Wandegeya-Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda
Joseph Opio: Department of Environmental Management, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala-Uganda P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Aggrey Siya: Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala-Uganda P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Bernard Barasa: Department of Environmental Management, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala-Uganda P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
John Paul Magaya: Department of Geomatics and Land Management, College of Engineering Design Art and Technology, Makerere University, Kampala-Uganda P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Justine J. Namaalwa: Department of Environmental Management, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala-Uganda P.O. Box 7062, Uganda

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-26

Abstract: Over 70% of Uganda is infested by the tsetse fly, which has negative effects on human and livestock health. From colonial to post-independent Uganda, the Government of Uganda has worked to eradicate the tsetse menace. Despite these efforts, recent veterinary reports from the Karamoja sub-region have indicated widespread tsetse invasion. This study investigated the potential impact of tsetse invasion on the socioecological resilience of pastoral communities in the Karamoja sub-region. Results indicated that tsetse invasion is spreading from north to south of Karamoja. The tsetse transmission route emerging from southern Karamoja is perceived to be a continuation of the tsetse belt from West Pokot, Kenya. Cases of livestock deaths, livestock abortions, decreased milk yields, restricted access to prime grazing lands, heightened human-wildlife conflicts and disruption on crop cultivation have been reported. A computed socioecological resilience index in the study area was positive but low. Owing to the transboundary characteristics of tsetse invasions and sources and the associated documented effects, an urgent, strategic and system-wide intervention should be undertaken to control the tsetse invasion in this sub-region.

Keywords: Glossina spp.; health; sleeping sickness; tsetse invasion; Karamoja sub-region; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/4/1599/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/4/1599/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1599-:d:323196

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().