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Farmers will start paying for the foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine next financial year, New Vision Online has learned.

Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze made the revelation during plenary on Thursday, February 8, 2024, on the floor of Parliament after Gomba West MP Robinah Rwakoojo asked the Government in the short term to continue providing vaccines free of charge



Tumwebaze said 10 million doses of the vaccines that Cabinet directed his ministry to purchase through a supplementary budget will be offered free of charge but farmers will have to pay when they start compulsory bi-annual vaccination of livestock.



Importation monopoly

Tumwebaze also revealed that the Government will maintain the monopoly of importing FMD vaccines into Uganda, saying that opening up will endanger the safety and security of animals in Uganda.



The FMD outbreak has so far been detected in 36 districts, now under quarantine. These include Isingiro, Kazo, Mbarara City, Mbarara district, Ntungamo, and Rwampara.