Dr. Godfrey Kahuta says that although there are no registered cases of Foot and Mouth Disease in the Kyenjojo district, they will not allow the entry of livestock into Kyenjojo until the outbreak in the affected districts has been contained.
Mugisa says beef prices are likely to keep soaring because entry of cattle from neighbouring districts has been restricted due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease.
Beef prices
have gone up in Kyenjojo district because of the measures put in place to stop
the spread of Foot and Mouth disease.
On Friday, the Kyenjojo District Veterinary Officer, Dr. Godfrey Kahuta,
restricted livestock movement into the district to prevent the spread of the
highly contagious viral infection, which has been reported in a number of
districts.
About two weeks ago, the government-imposed quarantine in Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, Sembabule and Gomba
districts where the disease had been detected in many herds.
The State Minister for Animal Husbandry Bright Rwamirama
then announced a ban on the movement of livestock and livestock products into
and out of the affected districts.
The government also announced restrictions on
the movement of livestock in another 24 districts including Kampala, Wakiso and
Mukono, which are listed among the high-risk areas.
Dr. Godfrey Kahuta says that although there are no
registered cases of Foot and Mouth Disease in the Kyenjojo district, they will not allow the entry of
livestock into Kyenjojo until the outbreak in the affected districts has been
contained.
//Cue in: “Restrictions ezitutaireho…
Cue out… nibyo twangaririire.”//
The restriction has already led to a scarcity of cattle for slaughtering in
Kyenjojo, leading to a hike in the beef prices at the butcheries.
Isaac Mugisa, a butcher in Kyenjojo town
council, says they normally buy cattle from Rwamwanja in Kamwenge district but
with the restriction, they are now stranded.
Mugisa explains that as a result, they have been forced to increase the price
of Kilogram of beef from Shillings 12,000 to Shillings 14,000 adding that the prices
may keep soaring as they run out of cattle to slaughter within the district.
//Cue in: “Nahabweeki batwikiriize…
Cue out… kutwembya enyama.”//
Lilian Bagwa, who works with Friends Hotel in Kyenjojo district, says due to an
increase in the beef prices they have also been forced to revise the cost of
food on their menu.
She says a plate of food with beef sauce is now Shillings 6,000 from Shillings 5,000.
She says their customers are already opposing the new price.
One of the
hotel’s customers, Joseph Kasangaki, says he is not happy with the changes
in the cost of food that he says is now expensive for him.
//Cue in: “Tufunire kwetombaita…
Cue out… kikukwatagana n’ebyokulya.”//
Foot and Mouth Disease is a viral disease of cloven-hoofed livestock and
wildlife, including cattle, goats, swine, sheep and buffaloes. It has occurred
several times in Uganda since 1953 when it was first confirmed.
It is
characterized by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the
mouth, on the teats and between the hooves.
