The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has taken significant steps to address the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak by releasing ninety thousand (90,000) doses of vaccines to twenty-three (23) highly affected districts.
Ministers Frank Tumwebaze and Maj Bright Rwamirama oversaw the handover of the vaccines at the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NaGRC) – Entebbe on Monday afternoon, emphasizing the government’s commitment to combatting the disease.
Funding for the “emergency response” program, totaling Shillings 35 billion out of the required 93 billion, was made possible through President Yoweri Museveni’s support.
The procurement of vaccines, facilitated by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, includes a policy shift where the government will import vaccines, with farmers bearing the cost of inoculation starting June.
However, for the current emergency response, vaccines will be provided free of charge with the ministry paying Shillings 200 for each animal.
Rwamirama assured that funds for inoculations would be directly transferred to District Veterinary Officers (DVOs) via mobile money to ensure farmers are not charged.
Priority was given to districts most affected by FMD, high-risk areas, and those near cross-border transit centers.
The emergency response includes disbursing 10 million doses of vaccine and providing 265 pharmaceutical refrigerators to maintain vaccine efficacy. The vaccines remain effective for six months, after which a new regime must be administered to control the disease.
The recent outbreak was exacerbated by the failure to administer new vaccinations following a national exercise in 2022. MAAIF seeks to achieve 80% vaccine coverage nationwide to combat FMD effectively.
While addressing concerns from private dealers regarding government monopoly, Tumwebaze emphasized the importance of ensuring the correct vaccines are administered to prevent further spread of the disease.
Members of Parliament from affected districts such as Jovanice Twinobusingye from Kiruhura, Wilson Kajwengye from Nyabushozi and Jenifer Muheesi from Kazo commended the government’s efforts but stressed the need for additional resources to sustain the momentum over the next two years.
Dr. Ninsiima Johnson, the District Veterinary Officer for Rukungiri, expressed gratitude for the vaccine supply, which will alleviate the strain on livestock activities caused by quarantine measures.
English 