Crisis Governance and Accountability: Uganda’s Response from Desert Locusts to COVID-19

Photo Credit: Arif Riyanto

Government Accountability and Crisis Preparedness

After the release of 15 billion shillings (about 4.5 million U.S. dollars) as a contingency fund to prevent the spread and invasion of desert locusts ravaging neighboring Kenya, the public struggled to identify them along the Uganda–Kenya border. Reports indicated that 11 billion shillings had been allocated to the regional locust control body for subscription and procurement of chemicals from Japan. After the government airlifted the first batch of locust-spraying equipment comprising close to 2,000 litres of chemicals (Cypermethrin), 500 motorized spray pumps, and about 1,500 manual spray pumps, a handful were brought to legislators in Parliament as evidence of preparedness. However, little additional information was publicly provided. The last we heard was that the Pakistani national who was supposed to spearhead the pesticide spraying team had reportedly fallen ill with malaria and was taken to a health centre in Katakwi for treatment.

In the comfort of our sitting rooms, we witnessed government executives making public statements on television that the desert locusts were too old to fly and, therefore, invisible to the Ugandan public. These claims generated confusion and skepticism among citizens. Comedians took advantage of this political theatre and crafted skits, songs, and banter. At the end of the day, no one has clearly explained how the released funds were used, who was responsible for oversight, or whether the funds will be properly accounted for.

One government official defended the emergency procurement process:

We have not spent the money, but we have done emergency procurement, which decision was taken yesterday in the night (Sunday) because we couldn’t buy the drug before they come, what if they could not come? Now we want to applaud the government that in less than 24 hours we have the chemicals,” Minister Bagiire

Without clear explanations regarding the accountability of desert locust preparedness funds, Uganda is now preparing for the potential spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Is the country prepared to avoid a similar governance debacle, or will funds once again be released without timely accountability?

The Emergence of COVID-19 in Uganda

With the COVID-19 virus approaching Uganda as neighboring countries in East Africa report confirmed cases, the question arises: how prepared are Uganda’s financial and administrative institutions to respond effectively? With the ongoing debates surrounding decentralization and local government financing in Uganda, how prepared are local governments to respond to the anticipated public health pressures? How much funding has been released from government coffers, and how is it being allocated? Do we have a reliable response mechanism, or are we relying primarily on innovations developed in neighboring countries?

Whereas we are seeing vigilance from the Ministry of Health in preventing the virus from reaching Uganda, much of the early preparedness appears to be driven by citizens themselves. Twenty minutes before writing this article, I contacted Saraya Uganda, a leading supplier of sanitizers, to place an order. The sanitizers were already out of stock. Citizens are sharing information about the virus through various channels. However, the credibility of much of this information remains uncertain. The public has largely stopped shaking hands and hugging, which are common Ugandan greeting gestures, as a preventive measure against COVID-19. However, greater leadership and coordinated communication from government institutions remain essential.

The biggest concern now is the potential for social stigma within communities. Social stigma can weaken social cohesion and isolate individuals or groups, which may ultimately increase the spread of the virus rather than contain it. Therefore, there is a need for honest, clear, and effective communication about COVID-19 to help communities respond appropriately. Fighting stigma requires building trust in reliable health services, demonstrating empathy toward those affected, improving understanding of the disease, and encouraging practical prevention strategies. This responsibility should not fall solely on the Ministry of Health, but also on government ministries, media institutions, community leaders, and civil society organizations.

Policy Recommendations for Public Health Governance

1. Ensure credible public communication: The Ministry of Health should ensure that accurate and timely information about COVID-19 reaches the public before misinformation spreads.

2. Strengthen collaboration with the media: The Ministry should work with media organizations to communicate information in clear, accessible language that can be understood across both rural and urban communities.

3. Engage the private sector: The government should collaborate with the private sector to support prevention strategies and supply essential materials such as sanitizers.

4. Address social stigma: Public communication should actively discourage stigma and promote empathy toward affected individuals.

However, focusing solely on the Ministry of Health would ignore broader financial accountability concerns within government institutions.

1. Parliament should request full accountability from both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance regarding desert locust preparedness funds.

2. The government should establish clear spending frameworks and accountability guidelines for emergency preparedness funds.

3. Uganda must learn from past governance failures and strengthen institutional accountability mechanisms for emergency funding.