By Stephen Nuwagira
Together we can achieve more, goes an adage. It for this reason that livestock sector stakeholders in Ibanda Municipality are working to support efforts aimed at stopping the spread of foot-and-mouth (FMD) and anthrax in the municipality. The move supplements the already existing interventions by the district authorities to stem the spread of the two infections threatening the sector.
The stakeholders in collaboration with the district and municipality authorities formed a joint taskforce this afternoon (February 2) to help in the enforcement of animal and animal products quarantine announced at the beginning of this week by the chief administrative officer.
The newly-formed taskforce of nine people will work with the district security team under the office of the resident district commissioner (RDC) and veterinary department to ensure the quarantine rules are followed. The group that will also have the mandate to apprehend anyone caught breaking the guidelines, besides carrying farmer and community sensitisation drives, among others.
“If we make good progress within the next three weeks, I will consult the ministry on possibility of reopening the sector for business, said district veterinary officer (DVO) Dr Hilary Arinaitwe during the stakeholders at Ibanda Municipal Council Hall this afternoon.
First line of defence
Frank Buhonda, a farmer from Ishongororo, challenged the stakeholders to work as vigilantes in their respective areas to ensure that no one flouts the quarantine guidelines, saying they were the first line of defence against the spread FMD and anthrax.
“We shouldn’t wait for the authorities to enforce the quarantine restrictions. Let’s put in place footbaths at our farms and control access. We must work together and act against those breaking the rules for the good of the majority and to protect the industry,” he told the meeting.
Patience Katunge, a farmer from Bisheshe Division, and Elias Kaijuka, a farmer in Bugarama, called for strong enforcement, laxity in enforcing the restrictions exposed the safe areas to the infections. “Some people slaughter goats in the bushes and deliver the meat door-to-door and supply hotels. This shows a big loophole in enforcement of the quarantine rules, which these people are exploiting to put the community and livestock sector at risk, she added.
Kaijuka said the corruption among enforcement agencies was compromising efforts to stop the spread of FMD and anthrax.
Boaz Katunda, the chairman of cattle traders in Kakatsi Bisheshe Division, said farmers who move animals and graze in other people’s lands in the villages or along roads in towns were a risk factor and should be stopped forthwith.
Ibanda is among the over 30 districts fighting FMD and anthrax outbreaks, some of which have both infections, which has put a strain on their economies. Others are Kazo, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Lyantonde, Rwampara and Isingiro, among others.
Fake vaccine
Meanwhile, the DVO said government has no FMD vaccines presently, adding that just 800 doses of anthrax vaccine have been allocated for Ibanda district. He said the procurement process for FMD vaccine was in advanced stages.
However, he farmers were informed that the purported FMD vaccine on the market is fake and must be avoided to safeguard the animals and money.
Dr Arinaitwe said that the ministry traced the origin of the said vaccine to the manufacturer, but it was found to be counterfeit. So, don’t be cheated by these unscrupulous individuals who want to profit from your misery, he said.
But he advised the farmers to buy vaccines from a private vet drugs supplier (Eram Uganda), which is approved by the National Drugs Authority (NDA).
No meat at parties
Relatedly, the DVO has announced a ban on the slaughter of animals at wedding parties and burial ceremonies, among other events. The district, which had hitherto allowed supervised slaughter of animals at these functions has stopped the practice with immediate effect, said Arinaitwe.
Moses Kakikiri, the municipality works secretary, had earlier raised the issue, saying that the health inspectors were only interested in money and never took samples to carry out tests to verify whether an animal was sick or not before being slaughtered.
