The Ugandan Cabinet has reportedly approved an extra 1.8 million dollars to help in the fight against the locust invasion. in the country

This reportedly came after it came to light that 3 million dollars of the initial 4 million dollars released for the same was used to pay membership arrears to the Desert Locusts Control Organisation for East Africa (DLCO-EA).

The regional body draws membership from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti.

The EastAfrican reported that even after paying the arrears, Uganda still owes the organization an extra $2 million.

Uganda, together with Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia, are the main defaulters.

Reports say Uganda last paid its fees as a member 40 years ago when it joined the organization in 1980.

Ugandan authorities say swarms of desert locusts that arrived in the country on Sunday have spread to at least two districts in the northeast of the country.

According to the BBC, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda chaired an emergency meeting of politicians and technocrats within hours of the first swarm of locusts being spotted.

The authorities there say they have a well laid out strategy to effectively destroy the pests though reports say the majority of Ugandans will have no memory of a desert locust outbreak.

It would be recalled that the last major upsurge was in the early 1960s.

The government is, however, relying on the army to be the backbone of its plan and intends to deploy 2,000 soldiers.