ARTICLE: In Uganda, anti-GMO scare tactics even taint conventional hybrid crops

The following is a commentary piece by Ugandan journalist Lominda Afedraru for the Genetic Literacy Project on how scaremongering about GMOs are now making people question any type of large or unusual food product, even ones just bred through conventional breeding. 

Heading into the final days before Christmas, the Ugandan city of Kampala was busy with people from all walks of life crowding the markets to purchase food for holiday festivities.

At the Nakawa market, a stall displays bunches of cooking bananas. And on this day, a woman named Nalongo Nakisseka stopped to criticize the offerings, accusing the vendor of “selling GMO bananas” from the National Agricultural Research Laboratories in Kawanda. The evidence? “The bunches are extra ordinary giant,” she said angrily.

Mary Nabukera, another shopper, joined in: “We are doomed; every food item sold in this market is GMO. Look at the size of tomatoes, onions, cabbages, Irish potato and oranges.”

Their criticisms drew the attention of bystander John Obuku, who pointed out that the various bananas on display were either conventional or hybrids, since Uganda doesn’t allow the sale of GMO bananas. In fact, no GMO crops are approved for sale in Uganda.

The exchange illustrates one of the problems facing Uganda as the nation considers whether to allow the cultivation of GMO crops. There is considerable confusion among the Ugandan public over the status of GMOs––with many people believing they’re already being grown and sold commercially, and many believing they are harmful.

The read the entire article, please visit the Genetic Literacy Project.