The President of the Republic of Uganda teams up with Dr. Wilberforce Tushemereirwe, Program Leader National Banana Research Program in the fight against the deadly Banana Xanthomonas wilt

President Yoweri Museveni has urged leaders in Busoga sub-region to sensitze farmers on control measures for the Banana Bacterial Wilt (BBW) disease that has affected banana growing in the region.

Museveni cited one of the most effective measures as ensuring that garden tools used on affected plants are not used on other plants unless disinfected.

He was speaking during opening a two-day meeing for leaders from Busoga region on the fight against BBW at Crested Crane Hotel in Jinja on Tuesday.

The meeting organized by the office of the president under the Presidential initiative to  fight BBW was attended by chief administrative officers, Members of Parliament, district chairpersons, NAADS co-ordinators, district internal security officers and resident district commissioners from the 10 districts of Busoga. "Do not move cutting tools and infected plant parts to other gadens. Cut, heap or bury infected plants in the same plantation. Flame farm tools in fire or clean them using Jik," Museveni said.

Museveni, who had just returned from a state visit to Israel, urged farmers to remove male buds immediately after the last cluster has formed to avoid insect visits and also use a forked stick to avoid spreading banana wilt using tools.

He also urged farmers to utilize the swamps in Busoga and engage in fish farming to earn more money.

Museveni later departed for Bulambuli district to attend the burial of the late Prof. Dani Nabudere, a veteran politician who died last week

Source: The New Vision, 17th Nov. 2011 reported by Donald Kiirya