Leaders from over 10 districts of Ankole sub-region have decried gaps in the fight against foot-and-mouth disease-FMD ravaging the cattle corridor, which led to the ongoing quarantine banning sale and movement of livestock and their products imposed two weeks ago,
Leaders say the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal, Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) should establish a regional taskforce to contain the spread of FMD and Anthrax instead of just imposing a quarantine with not teamwork, which has caused a big economic crisis in the community.
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NO VACCINES: Leaders, who say MAAIF has never planned any annual preventive measures to avoid outbreaks, now accuse the government for not importing and stocking FMD vaccines.
Col. James Mwesigye, the Mbarara Resident City Commissioner-RCC says the regional taskforce will be key in enforcing the current quarantine which is already being flouted by some big people.
Aaron Turahi, the Isingiro District LC 5 Chairperson wants the government to prioritize sensitization of farmers on how to manage the disease instead of waiting for an outbreak to start panicking.
In Kiruhura district, Dan Mukago Rutetebya who is the district LC 5 Chairperson urged the government to earmark funds to facilitate calendar vaccination of animals at least every after six months to prevent such outbreaks.
LACK OF ENOUGH & READY FUNDS: According to Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal, Industry and Fisheries, the Ministry is seeking a supplementary budget of about Ugx76 billion ($20 million) to purchase 10 million doses of FMD vaccines, and the disease has already spread to 36 districts out of 146 districts in Uganda as of February 2, 2024.
Minister Tumwebaze assured farmers that in the next one or two months, his Ministry expects to receive and dispatch 2.3 million doses of the FMD vaccine to the affected and susceptible districts for ring vaccination scale-up.
Farmers and other stakeholders have continuously accused the government for not allowing farmers to purchase vaccines.
In Uganda, FMD vaccines are solely procured and imported by the government through MAAIF and distributed by the district local governments through the district veterinary offices.
The 36 districts currently affected and under quarantine are Budaka, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bunyangabu, Butaleja, Fortportal City, Gomba, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kabarole, Kasanda, Kayunga, Kazo, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kiruhura, Kumi, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyotera, Luuka, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Mbarara City, Mityana, Mpigi, Mubende, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namisindwa, Ngora, Ntungamo, Rakai, Rwampara and Sembabule.
All districts neighboring the affected districts are at high risk, under strict surveillance, and the authorities have been advised to remain vigilant.
These include Apac, Amolatar, Bugiri, Bushenyi, Butaleja, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Katakwi, Kasese, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kyenjojo, Mbale, Masindi, Mayuge, Mukono, Namalemba, Nakapiripirit, Palisa, Rukungiri, Sironko, Wakiso and Soroti.
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Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) has also started the process of formulating and developing an FMD vaccine for the country.
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