Lira, Uganda | The government is set to vaccinate an estimated 46.3 million livestock across the country in a major campaign aimed at eliminating Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and protecting Uganda’s livestock industry.
The nationwide exercise, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), is expected to commence this month.
Speaking to journalists at the Apostolic Social Centre in Lira City, the Apac District Veterinary Officer and Chairperson of Veterinary Doctors in Northern Uganda, Dr. David Nelson Okello said all preparations for the vaccination campaign have been completed.
He said the government had resolved to vaccinate all susceptible animals following the continued threat posed by FMD, a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
According to Dr. Okello, Uganda has an estimated livestock population of 16.5 million cattle, 17.4 million goats, 4.4 million sheep, and about 8 million pigs, bringing the total number of animals targeted for vaccination to 46.3 million.
He noted that FMD remains one of the country’s most destructive livestock diseases, frequently prompting quarantine restrictions that limit the movement and trade of animals between districts, leading to significant economic losses for farmers.
Dr. Okello cautioned livestock farmers against making cash payments to veterinary officers administering the vaccines.
Instead, he said farmers will pay UGX 8,000 per animal through PostBank Uganda and Housing Finance Bank, stressing that all payments must be made through the designated financial institutions to enhance transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, the Otuke District Veterinary Officer, Dr. Goreti Atim said no cases of Foot-and-Mouth disease have been reported in the Lango sub-region.
She said the government is nevertheless undertaking preventive vaccination to protect the region from possible outbreaks.
Dr. Atim added that Uganda is targeting the elimination of Foot-and-Mouth disease by 2040. She said veterinary teams have already embarked on community sensitisation campaigns to prepare livestock farmers for the nationwide vaccination exercise and ensure its successful implementation.
