The Kasese District Department of Production has received more than 16,000 vaccine doses to tackle a growing outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) even when the campaign faces pushback from some livestock keepers over the cost-sharing policy.
Dr. Kibaya Yusuf, the district veterinary officer, said the vaccines will be used to protect livestock across the district, where the targeted cattle population is estimated at 28,000. He confirmed that the vaccination exercise will soon be rolled out in villages across the district.
Dr. Yusuf added that the programme follows the government’s cost-sharing policy. Under the policy, livestock keepers are required to pay for vaccinations at the following rates: 8,000 shillings per cattle and pig, and 4,000 shillings per goat and sheep for each vaccination cycle. The vaccination cycles will be running in January–March and August–September for four years.
The fees have drawn criticism from some livestock keepers. They said the 8,000/4,000 shilling charges per animal are unaffordable and are calling on authorities to strengthen animal inspections at entry points. They warned that animals brought from Tanzania to the district’s busy border cattle market may be introducing infections such as FMD.
Local leaders have pledged to step up measures to control movement of potentially infected animals. Muhindi Eliphaz Bukombi, the LCV for Kasese, said authorities will work with security agencies to ensure any animals brought into the district are accompanied by proper documentation and are vaccinated.
Maate Magwara, deputy RDC Kasese in charge of Bukonzo, urged the ditsrict production department to move quickly to complete vaccinations before the outbreak spreads further and threatens the border cattle market which is said to be exporting at least 1000 cattle to DRC every week.
In the initial phase of the campaign, 118 animals were vaccinated. Officials say that within a week they expect to have vaccinated about 163 animals as the drive expands into more communities.
Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious among cloven-hoofed animals and can cause severe production losses. District authorities have emphasized the importance of timely vaccination and movement controls to limit the spread and protect livelihoods tied to livestock trade.
