Nebbi leaders reject agricultural inputs over expired pesticides
The rejection of the expired pesticides comes amid growing concern across Uganda over the quality and safety of agricultural inputs
NEBBI, July 13, 2026 — Local leaders in Nebbi District have rejected a consignment of agricultural inputs supplied by Farmer to Farmer Distributors, a Kampala-based agricultural inputs distributor, after discovering that pesticides intended for distribution to local farmers had expired in May 2026.
The rejection of the expired pesticides comes amid growing concern across Uganda over the quality and safety of agricultural inputs.
According to the Nebbi leaders, the district cannot allow expired chemicals to be distributed to farmers because of the risks they pose to human health, crops and the environment.
The expired pesticides were among the inputs earmarked for distribution to two pilot farmers’ groups in the district under the Climate Smart Agriculture Project implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF]. Under the project, farmers contribute 20 per cent of the cost, while the Government provides the remaining 80 per cent.
Speaking at the Nebbi district headquarters days ago, Robert Abak, the Nebbi Resident District Commissioner [RDC], questioned the credibility of the entire consignment after the expired pesticides were discovered.
“If the sample intended for distribution to farmers has already expired, how can we trust the rest of the supplies?” Abak asked.
He added that all agricultural inputs supplied to the district must be thoroughly verified before being distributed to farmers in order to prevent the risks associated with handling hazardous chemicals.
“Supplies and tenders awarded from the centre have, over the years, given the district a headache because they have often failed to provide value for money, either through poor-quality products or shoddy work. This situation needs to be investigated,” Abak said.
Nebbi District Production Officer Leverious Nyakuni described the incident as unprecedented.
“It is the first time in the district’s history that a supplier has presented expired products as samples for approval before supplying farmers,” Nyakuni said.
“The district cannot accept expired agricultural inputs for distribution to farmers. Before any items are handed over to beneficiaries, they must be verified and tested in the district laboratory. In the case of Farmer to Farmer, the supplier brought expired pesticides to the district, which were subsequently rejected by the district leaders.”
Responding to the concerns, Farmer to Farmer Director Jesse Alele admitted that 12 one-litre bottles of expired pesticide had been included among other sample items, including soybean seed, knapsack sprayers, tape measures and personal protective equipment.
“We sincerely apologise to the district for the expired pesticide that was detected. The products must have been loaded by our staff without our knowledge. We shall rectify the mistake and replace them with valid products before the actual supplies are delivered,” Alele said.
This is not the first time Nebbi district has rejected agricultural inputs.
In 2021, district leaders rejected 10 tonnes of NABE 17 bean seed supplied under the Operation Wealth Creation [OWC] programme by Equator Seeds Limited after determining that the seed was of poor quality.
Nebbi District LCV Chairperson George Othuba urged district technocrats to prioritise the interests of local communities and support efforts to eradicate poverty rather than being influenced by suppliers seeking to maximise profits by supplying substandard seed and expired pesticides.
“We are not asleep on the job. We are committed to transforming the livelihoods of our communities through transparency and close monitoring of everything that enters and leaves the district,” Othuba said.
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