If you’ve ever indulged in the crispy, salty delight of nsenene (grasshoppers), you’ll know that it’s more than just a snack. It’s a bite of Uganda’s culture, history, and, for many, a cherished tradition. But in recent years, something has gone terribly wrong, and you might have unknowingly eaten the last nsenene. No, this isn’t a dramatic piece of fiction. The numbers don’t lie, and the bugs aren’t showing up like they used to. So, what happened to our favorite crispy critters, and why are we all left wondering if the grasshopper season is nothing more than a fading memory?
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The Grasshopper Boom that Never Came
If you’ve been lucky enough to get your hands on nsenene in the past, you probably remember how bustling markets would turn into a sea of plastic cups filled with the crunchy critters, vendors shouting prices, and the whole community looking forward to their annual harvest. It was the kind of festival that brought people together—the buzzing sound of nsenene filling the night air while children chased them through fields, and the elders prepared their special recipes.
But not in 2021. Oh no, in 2021, the nsenene all but vanished. What was supposed to be a season of plenty turned into a near disaster. In the central Ugandan district of Masaka—often called Nsenene City—traders like Twaha Kavuma, who usually harvests thousands of grasshoppers for sale, saw their profits plummet. What was once a golden season turned into a financial setback, with prices soaring sky-high yet supply barely scratching the surface.
In some areas, grasshoppers were so scarce that they were sold at prices you’d expect for something exotic or rare—like gold or rare diamonds. Think about it: a cup of nsenene that would have cost you UGX 3,500 (around $0.60) skyrocketed to UGX 10,000 (around $2.81) for ready-to-eat ones. That’s nearly three times the price! And still, demand outstripped supply.
So, if you had the chance to nibble on a handful of nsenene in 2021, you were indeed lucky. You may have eaten the very last of them for the year.
What’s Going Wrong?
At first glance, this might seem like just a bad year for grasshoppers, right? Wrong. What’s happening is part of a much larger picture—one that involves the shifting patterns of nature, the environment, and, yes, climate change.
Climate Change: The Silent Killer
Let’s start with the basics. Grasshoppers, like most creatures, rely heavily on the environment to thrive. In East Africa, nsenene rely on a delicate balance between rainfall, temperature, and the availability of suitable vegetation. But with climate change wreaking havoc on the region, seasonal patterns have shifted, and the rains that used to fall consistently during their breeding periods are no longer as predictable. This disruption makes it harder for the grasshoppers to find the conditions they need to multiply and thrive.
And it’s not just the weather that’s the issue. The rising temperatures and desertification are pushing grasshoppers to migrate elsewhere in search of food, and the places they used to flock to—like the swamps near Lake Victoria and the Lwera region—have been compromised by human activity. More on that in a second.
Habitat Loss: When the Home is Gone
Now, let’s talk about the lands where grasshoppers used to thrive. Uganda has witnessed an alarming rate of deforestation and wetland degradation over the years. Areas that were once lush with vegetation have been cleared for farming, urbanization, and mining. Take Masaka, for example: Over the years, 15,000 hectares of wild habitat have been converted into farmland or used for settlements. The Lwera swamp, a hotspot for grasshopper activity, is now peppered with rice plantations and sand mining operations. Not exactly ideal for grasshoppers, is it?
This is a huge problem. If you’ve ever driven through the outskirts of Masaka or past the shores of Lake Victoria, you’ll know the landscape is no longer what it used to be. The lush vegetation that fed the grasshoppers has been replaced by crops, settlements, and industry, leaving the insects with fewer places to hide, breed, and, well, multiply.
The Desert Locusts: Not the Grasshopper You Want
While grasshoppers are disappearing, there’s been an explosion in another type of insect that’s far less welcome: the desert locust. With the rising ocean temperatures and shifting weather patterns, desert locusts have found their way into East Africa in larger numbers. These pests don’t just nibble on crops; they devour everything in their path, leaving nothing behind. The locusts are like the bully on the block, pushing out the grasshoppers and claiming all the resources.
Experts warn that if global warming continues at its current rate, locust outbreaks will only increase, which means less food for the grasshoppers and more competition for the little resources left.
Is It Really the Last Nsenene?
So, are we witnessing the last nsenene? Not necessarily. But unless we change how we treat the environment, the outlook is pretty grim. Here’s where things get hopeful: we can still do something about it. The solution lies in rethinking how we interact with our environment.
Plant More Trees, Restore Habitats
The first step is simple—plant more trees. The restoration of Uganda’s forests and wetlands could help provide the habitats that nsenene need to thrive. In fact, several organizations, like Last Drop Africa, are leading tree-planting initiatives to combat deforestation and restore ecosystems. So, if you’re reading this and wondering what you can do—plant a tree! It might not bring back the nsenene overnight, but it’s a start.
Sustainable Cooking and Green Energy
Deforestation isn’t just caused by farming and construction. A huge chunk of it comes from the demand for charcoal and firewood. If we can switch to cleaner cooking methods—like using gas or solar-powered stoves—we can reduce the strain on our forests. Reducing the need for firewood means fewer trees are cut down, leaving habitats for creatures like nsenene intact.
Artificial Breeding: A Lifeline for the Bugs
Here’s something that might surprise you: artificial breeding. Ugandan scientists, led by Professor Phillip Nyeko from Makerere University, have been experimenting with controlled grasshopper breeding. The idea is to raise nsenene in a controlled environment, ensuring a steady supply without disrupting their natural habitats. It’s an innovative approach that could help balance the need for this cultural delicacy with the protection of biodiversity.
A Future with Nsenene?
The future of nsenene depends on how we treat our environment now. The good news? It’s not too late to reverse some of the damage. We can plant trees, embrace sustainable living, and even experiment with artificial breeding techniques to ensure that the insects don’t just become a distant memory.