By Tom Gwebayanga
The livestock farming fraternity in Buyende is panicking after the agriculture ministry added the district onto the list of those under quarantine due to an outbreak of the foot and mouth disease (FMD).
The development means the immediate restriction of livestock movements and trade in the semi- arid district.
In a communication received by the district production and marketing department, commissioner for disease control and animal health Dr Anna Rose Ademun Okurut declared the FMD outbreak on Friday, March 1, 2024.
Buyende joins 34 other districts grappling with an outbreak that forced the ministry to slap timeless quarantine, restricting movements and trade of cows, goats, sheep and pigs, among other livestock.
In this respect, cattle lorry loads to Buyende district, known as “Busoga’s Cattle Corridor” from the districts of Kiboga, Mubende, Kayunga Mbarara etc. have been stopped until further notice.
Buyende district production officer Dr Fredrick Kabbale acknowledged having received the commissioner’s communication, adding that the outbreak features in the greater Kagulu, Bugaya and Nkondo sub-counties.
“We had handled the sporadic pockets (cases), assuming they would be manageable. However, the situation ran out of control and we had to inform the ministry,” Kabbale said during a phone interview with New Vision Online on Monday, March 4, 2024.
Control measures in place
District veterinary officer Fredrick Kaggwa said control measures have been put in place as the technical team treats affected animals as the vaccines come.
According to Kabbale, the quarantine is timeless and that it will depend on now the farmers will abide by the regulations and bylaws.
“Non-compliance to the restrictions will lead to extended spread. Our prayer is that the farmers abide by the regulations, in the bid to shorten the quarantine,” Kabbale said.
Vaccination and sensitisation efforts
In the process, all animals in the vulnerable areas are subject to vaccination, the dose which John Bosco Nyago, an animal service provider specialist in Nkoone parish, Irundu sub-county, said will be at an affordable cost.
By press time, the vaccines were yet to arrive; the technocrats were on the ground monitoring and holding sensitisation meetings with farmers.
Buyende Resident District COmmissioner Maj. Betty Otekat Akello raised public concern that the outbreak may outwit the beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model, who bought cattle in the bid to reduce poverty.
Ronald Nsimbi, a resident of Igalaza in Irundu sub-county, was concerned that schoolchildren may miss classes, because most of the parents sell livestock to get fees.
”The quarantine will force market rates down, which will translate to reduced currency flow, birthing high poverty levels,” Nsimbi, the Igalaza LC1 vice-chairperson said.
ABOUT FMD
According to Kabbale, FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact.
The symptoms include fever, mouth, hooves and skin sores on the affected animals.
The basic treatment of such an outbreak is isolation and treatment of the symptoms and vaccinating the disease-free ones, according to Kabbale.
