Tayebwa Demands Explanation Into Livestock Quarantine In 32 Districts

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has directed the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries to explain the progress made in containing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

The deputy speaker said a section of farmers across the country have raised concerns about the quarantine being enforced by the ministry.

The Ministry of Agriculture recently imposed a quarantine on 32 districts across the country. This followed the new outbreak of the foot and mouth disease.

The affected districts include Gomba, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, and Sembabule among others. Movement of livestock and livestock products into and out of these districts or through to other districts is immediately banned.

Tayebwa directed the agriculture minister to present a statement on Thursday, next week. This should explain how long these districts have been under quarantine and how long they are anticipated to remain quarantined.

“We need to be brought on board to know how best to respond to these issues. We need to know what is the Minister doing. What the government is doing to resolve the matter? When will the farmers get vaccines against Foot and Mouth Disease? How did the disease spread to various districts yet they usually lock up immediately after they get such cases, what measures are being put in place, and what is the ministry’s long-term plan, to manage and reduce the economic effects of foot and mouth disease,” the deputy speaker said.

He also directed the minister to appraise Parliament on the kind of support the ministry requires from other stakeholders.

Uganda has about 40 million livestock including 16 million goats, 15 million heads of cattle, 5.6 million sheep, and 5 million swine.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a viral disease of cloven-hoofed livestock and wildlife including cattle, goats, swine, sheep, and buffalos. It has occurred several times in Uganda since 1953 when it was first confirmed.

It is characterized by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves.

The disease also causes severe production losses. While the majority of affected animals recover, the disease often leaves them weakened and highly unproductive.

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