Tsetse threat to resilience of Karamoja pastoralists

Over 70% of Uganda is infested by the tsetse fly, which has negative effects on human and livestock health. The study “Tsetse invasion as an emerging threat to socioecological resilience of pastoral communities in Karamoja, Uganda” (2020, 26pp) by Anthony Egeru et al, published in Sustainability 12, 1599 (doi:10.3390/su12041599), investigated the impact of tsetse invasion on pastoralist communities in Karamoja. The tsetse flies appear to come from West Pokot in Kenya. Increased prevalence was observed in two districts in northern Karamoja close to Kidepo Valley National Park. Although the level of the pastoralists’ socio-ecological resilience revealed by the study was positive, the threat of tsetse in the area is growing. Given the transborder nature of tsetse transmission, the authors argue for coordinated multi-country intervention to control tsetse spread.

Posted on 9 March 2020 in Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition