Uganda has moved to withdraw and tightly control several commonly used agricultural chemicals, citing dangers to human health, the environment, and the country’s export markets.
In a notice issued to CropLife Uganda and licensed agrochemical dealers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) said the decision follows a scientific review by its Agricultural Chemicals Review Committee.
The committee examined the safety of the chemicals, as well as their impact on trade and national interests, before recommending regulatory action.
Under the new measures, chemicals such as alpha-cypermethrin, atrazine, butachlor, dimethoate, and propanil will be phased out. Their importation has been stopped immediately, with a complete withdrawal from the market expected between mid-2026 and the end of 2026.
At the same time, some products will remain in use but under strict limitations. Imidacloprid will only be used for coffee pest control and seed treatment, carbendazim will be restricted to cashew nuts, indoxacarb to tomatoes and brassica crops, while profenofos will be limited to controlling fall armyworms in maize. Fipronil will no longer be used in farming and will only be allowed for termite control in construction.
According to the ministry, the review found that several of these chemicals pose serious health and environmental risks, including links to cancer, reproductive harm, damage to ecosystems, and threats to pollinators.
