By Prossy Nandudu
Tanzania’s Agriculture minister is set to visit his counterparts in Uganda to discuss the prevention and management of foot mouth disease that is first becoming a threat to the livestock sector in Uganda.
This was revealed by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Bright Rwamirama, while briefing the media about the state of FMD management in Uganda.
In the meeting, the two ministers will discuss joint vaccination programs of livestock on the districts bordering Tanzania and Uganda among other control measures among other transboundary diseases.
“At the moment we are seeking support from the government to at least get 10 million doses for vaccination, we have gone ahead and signed MOUs with countries we think are important to harmonize transboundary disease policies. We have signed an MOU with Tanzania on animal disease control. In a few weeks’ time, the minister will be coming so we can visit the border districts and agree on disease management,” Rwamirama said.
According to Rwamirama, failure to manage the disease, will affect the already established investments in the sector including the 150 milk processing plants and about 8 abattoirs. In terms of beef exports, Uganda could lease a deal where China plans to import tons of cooked beef from Uganda.
Other measures include increasing surveillance of high-risk areas such as t border districts, districts near game parks as these are known avenues through which foot and mouth disease spreads.
Uganda has been battling the FMD from the time the first outbreak was confirmed in one of the cattle corridor districts in November 2023. Since then, the disease has spread to over 34 districts.
Latest reports indicate an outbreak in Kabowa in Kampala, which has since been isolated and is being managed by the ministry’s veterinary teams.
According to Rwamirama, although ring vaccination continues in the affected districts, dealers in the livestock sector should follow the guidelines that were issued by the ministry last year, so as to continue in the trade of livestock products.
