The donation includes 300,000 doses of Foot and mouth Disease vaccines in cattle and other big ruminants, 140,000 doses for small ruminants, and another 200,000 doses for lung disease in small ruminants. It also included re-agents and tool kits for laboratory use that shall be used to aid early detection of outbreaks, which the field officers have to immediately report to the ministry.
The Food and Agricultural
Organisation (FAO) has donated vaccines and equipment
valued at over US$1 million to combat animal diseases in the Karamoja region. The
donation includes 300,000 doses of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines for cattle
and other large ruminants, 140,000 doses for small ruminants, and an additional
200,000 doses for lung disease in small ruminants.
It also includes reagents and
toolkits for laboratory use to aid in the early detection of outbreaks, which
field officers can promptly report to the ministry. Dr. Antonio Querido, the
FAO country representative, officially handed over this donation to Maj Bright
Rwamirama, the Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, at the National Animal
Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Center (NADDEC) in Entebbe.
Querido emphasized that this
donation holds great significance for the livestock sector, particularly in
Karamoja. It aims to enhance the region's capacity to prevent, detect, and
respond to disease outbreaks, benefiting not only Karamoja but the entire
country.
Karamoja is designated as a
flashpoint by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries
(MAAIF) due to its nomadic population and porous international borders that
facilitate the transmission of diseases.
Querido acknowledged that the European
Union (EU), in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and other
agencies, had provided the funding to make this donation possible. He
highlighted the immense potential of the Ugandan livestock sector, emphasizing
the importance of its sustained and sustainable development.
Querido (English)
//Cue in … My name is …
Cue out… the outbreaks,"//
Minister Rwamirama expressed
his commitment to personally oversee the vaccination exercise in Karamoja next
month as part of the effort to protect the national herd. He emphasized the
importance of regional cooperation in controlling livestock diseases, as
cross-border movements are common among herding communities.
Rwamirama
(English)
//Cue in … We are here to …
Cue out… the national herd,"//
Uganda recently signed a
livestock disease control agreement with Tanzania, following a similar
agreement with Kenya. Minister Rwamirama indicated that a similar agreement
would be signed with South Sudan.
Luganda
//Cue in: "Twasaba obuyambi …
Cue out… tubukwanyisiza eyo Karamoja,"//
Animal diseases such as Foot
and Mouth Disease and lung-related illnesses have been a hindrance to the
growth of the livestock sector in Karamoja. However, Uganda's livestock
potential remains strong and competitive in the region, with the country
expected to reach a peak of 4 million liters of processed milk per day in the
next two months.
Rwamirama also mentioned that
a Cabinet paper has been prepared to address animal health issues that have
previously affected beef production.
//Cue in: "Omutiindo gw’amata …
Cue out… nnyo, at nnyo dala dala,|//
He extended his appreciation
to FAO and other partners for their support to the sector.
