The goats started dying three weeks ago leaving many goat farmers stranded. Most of the goat farmers are forced to bury carcasses as people fear to eat their meat.
A man Rearing goats in Buhirigi Village Kigorobya sub county Hoima District. An outbreak of Goat Plague has killed over 200 goats in the district.Photo by Emmanuel Okello.
An outbreak of the Goat Plague has killed more than 200 goats at
Mbegu landing site Buseruka Sub County, Hoima district.
Goat Plague is also known as
peste des petits ruminants. The disease is characterised by
sudden onset of depression, fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, sores in
the mouth, breathing difficulties and cough, foul-smelling diarrhoea and death.
The goats started dying three weeks ago leaving many goat farmers
stranded. Most of the goat farmers are forced to bury carcasses as people
fear to eat their meat.
The affected goats present symptoms like diarrhoea, coughing, sneezing,
discharge from the eyes and nose making breathing difficult and forcing eyes
shut before dying.
Suleiman Waaku, the Mbegu Landing site LCI Chairperson who lost his 20 goats to
the disease explains that the residents became too scared and concerned
following the massive death of their goats. He says the outbreak of the disease
has economically affected farmers since most of them had invested in goat
rearing.
//Cue in: “There we are…
Cue out: “…lost even many.”//
Foste Ageya, another goat farmer who lost 182 goats in two weeks
says he has lost more than 20 Million Shillings following the death of his
goats.
Clever Oringi who is also practising goat farming says he lost 30
of his goats to the disease saying most farmers in the area have lost hope of
further rearing goats. He wants the government to intervene and have the
situation controlled immediately.
//cue in;”Asaga peko mawa…
Cue out:…wek kara ukonywa.”//
Dr Patrick Ndorwa, the Hoima district Veterinary officer says that
the blood samples from some of the sick animals that were taken to the National
Animal Disease Diagnosis and epidemiology Center-NADDEC turned positive for the
plague.
//cue in;” I got report…
Cue out:…they had PPR.”//
He says that the district has secured 3,000 doses to vaccinate the
goats.
Dr Ndorwa adds that currently over 1,000 goats have already been
vaccinated at Mbegu landing site to help fight the outbreak and also prevent
the disease from further spreading to other sub-counties.
//cue in;” We wrote requesting…
Cue out:…are continuing.”//
He warns against the transportation of goats and sheep from Mbegu
landing site to other areas within the district to avoid the disease from
spreading to other sub-counties and other neighbouring districts.