Status of banana bacterial wilt in Uganda

Banana bacterial wilt caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. Musacearum (Xcm) was first reported in Ethiopia on in 1968 and on bananas in 1974. A similar disease, confirmed to be caused by Xcm was then reported in Uganda in 2001 on bananas in Mukono and Kayunga. The disease (now locally called Kiwotoka) is very destructive and attacks most of the banana cultivars grown in Uganda. In 2005 it was estimated to have caused yield loss of about US$ 34 million at a time when it was well established in only about 30% of the banana producing areas. This paper describes the current status of the disease distribution and control in Uganda.