John Vincent Okoth the Bududa District Veterinary Officer says that the district lacks funds to vaccinate more than 80,000 heads of cattle in the whole district. He adds that the government has not prioritised the disease as it has done for foot and mouth disease, anthrax and swine fever.
Farmers in Bududa district have been asked to vaccinate livestock
affected by the lumpy skin disease at their costs.
Last week, the district announced the outbreak of lumpy skin
disease, which affects livestock. The outbreak was confirmed in Nalwanza,
Bududa, Bushika and Bumasheti sub-counties with over 10 cases altogether.
The infectious disease is caused by Proxivirus and presents with signs of lamps
on the skin of an infected animal, high temperature, enlarged superficial Lymph
nodes and loss of appetite among others.
John Vincent Okoth the Bududa District Veterinary Officer says
that the district lacks funds to vaccinate more than 80,000 heads of cattle in
the whole district. He adds that the government has not prioritized the disease
as it has done for foot and mouth disease, anthrax and swine fever.
Peter Wanambwa a farmer from Bududa Sub County says that he lacks
funds to buy the vaccines.
He wants thhe government to intervene since cattle
keeping is their only source of income.
Wilson Swalikha another farmer from Bumukwana in Bumayoka Sub
County says that the government should respond to the outbreak the same way it
did to Covid-19, Cholera, and Ebola among other disease outbreaks.
Yonasan Bululu the vice-chairperson
Bududa who is also the secretary social services regretted the outbreak and
asked farmers to remain as they look for solutions.
Andrew Nakhaboya
Freelancer