According to Dr. Ronald Bameka, the Lyantodne District Veterinary Officer, some were selling cows and goats while others slaughtered and secretly sold meat to residents amid quarantine.
Lyantonde
District Veterinary officials in collaboration with the Resident District
Commissioner and police have arrested ten people for violating the
Foot-and-mouth disease quarantine.
The
suspects in custody at Lyantonde police station are mainly livestock farmers,
meat and cattle dealers who were arrested on different days this week during different operations.
Police declined to release the names so that they don't jeopardise the ongoing operations to apprehend their accomplices. The
arrest comes at the time when the movement of animals and sale of meat, hides and
skin, are strictly prohibited following the FMD outbreak last week.
According
to Dr. Ronald Bameka, the Lyantodne District Veterinary officer, some
of the people arrested were selling cows and goats, while others slaughtered and secretly sold meat to
residents amid the quarantine.
Also
four cows and three goats were confiscated and more than 200 litres of milk poured from Kyemamba sub-county, which was put under total lockdown.
//Cue
in: “We have so far apprehended…………….
Cue
out:……………………..but that one I poured.”//
Four
cattle markets of Kyemamba, Kyenshama, Kitindo and Kanshagama and all loading
sites in the district were closed.
Catherine
Kamwine, the Lyantonde Resident District Commissioner, confirmed the arrest.
She
says that some livestock farmers and dealers have resorted to transporting
animals and meat at night which violates the directive.
She
adds that while others are using some porous routes to sneak the meat, milk and
various animal products out of the district which may expose other districts to
FMD.
//Cue
in: “Twafunye obulwadde bwa kalusu…………….
Cue
out:………………ate nga kiba kimenya mateeka.”//
She
further cautioned all livestock farmers to desist from violating the quarantine
and allow treating the animals for the good of other farmers and the country. Kamwinw
adds that they have strengthened day and night patrols to arrest transporters
and livestock dealers and farmers who deliberately undermine the directive.
//Cue
in: “Tuli mu quarantine tetusubira…………….
Cue
out:……………………..abalala nga tebakola.”//
ASP Muhammad Nsubuga, the Masaka Regional Police spokesperson, says they are working with relevant departments to ensure they enforce the quarantine. Lyantonde
is among the 20 districts that were put under quarantine to minimise the spread
of the disease.
Others
are Sembabule, Rakai, Gomba, Wakiso, Kiboga, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kyankwanzi,
Kyotera, Koboko, Bukedea, Mbarara, Masindi, Mukono, Nakaseke, Nakasongolo,
Rubirizi, Ibanda, Serere and others.
However,
strict warnings were given by the Ministry of Agriculture and the district
veterinary departments were instructed to implement quarantine.
Among
the measures, the restaurants and hotels were restricted from preparing meat
for their clients until when the situation normalizes.
Still,
operation of slaughterhouses/abattoirs, butcheries, meat-roasting stalls, and
pork joints were suspended. In Lyantonde, the FMD is
an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed
animals, including domestic and wild bovids. The
foot and mouth of the animal develop soars that leave the animal in
excruciating pain. In most cases, the infected animal cannot move or eat which
may result in death.
END
Davis Buyondo
Freelancer