In Court

No to DDT spray: A Ugandan high court has asked the health ministry to suspend the spraying of ddt in northern part of the country following a petition by nine groups of farmers, traders and conservationists. To kill mosquitoes, the ministry launched indoor spraying of DDT in Apac and Oyam districts in February this year and was planning to extend the drive countrywide. The petitioners, however, accuse the ministry of neither adhering to who guidelines nor following the rules set by the National Environment Management Authority. They contend that the ministry has not adequately sensitized residents on the effects of ddt, and as a result people are not observing precautions on storage of crops, handling utensils and farm implements.

The farmers' groups also contend that buyers of their produce abroad threaten to stop buying if traces of ddt were found in them and sought to stop the spraying of the chemical.