The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries has banned the movement of cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs to and from Kampala, as well as going through the city, due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

The ban also affects their products like meat, milk, and byproducts like hides and skin, cow dung, and blood, among others. This was contained in a letter dated March 7, 2024, signed by the commissioner of animal health in the ministry, Dr Rose Ademun, addressed to the chief administrative officer for Kampala District.

According to the letter, foot and mouth disease was detected in Kabowa, Lubaga Division in Kampala, as reported on February 28, 2024.

“Quarantine restrictions are hereby imposed on Kampala District, as per the Animal Diseases Act Cap 38. Movement of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and their products and byproducts from, to, through Kampala district is prohibited until further notice,” said Ademun in the letter.

She added that livestock markets, slaughter places, including butcheries, loading grounds and animal shows in the entire district should be closed with immediate effect.

For the directive to take effect, she called on Kampala district administration, district veterinary officers, LCs, chiefs, and enforcement personnel to enforce quarantine restrictions as per the Animal Diseases Act Cap 38.

Interventions 

On February 5, 2024, the Cabinet approved the release of sh10bn towards the purchase of FMD vaccine for the affected high-risk districts and thereafter, make it easy for veterinary authorities to lift quarantine restrictions.

By the end of February, the disease had been detected in Apac, Amolatar, Bugiri, Bushenyi, Butaleja, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Katakwi, Kasese, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kyenjojo, Mbale, Masindi, Mayuge, Mukono, Namalemba, Nakapiripirit, Palisa, Rukungiri, Sironko, Wakiso, and Soroti districts according to the agriculture ministry. 

The disease, according to a source in the agriculture ministry, was first detected in one of the cattle corridor districts in November 2023.

According to experts, the disease is easily spread through the movement of sick animals from one place to another. This has been made worse by the aids such as the trucks that carry and deposit the heads of cattle in different locations.

Dr Nicholas Kauta, a consultant veterinary doctor, said during the transportation of livestock, some animals are usually sick. And in the trucks, grass is put to prevent the cows from falling off while in transit.

In the process, animals urinate and pass out dung onto the grass in the truck. Now, in case one animal is infected with FMD, transmission to other animals becomes easier, added Kauta.

He further attributed the recurrence of FMD to lack of a proper system for checking vehicles that transport animals. 

“Because Ugandans continue transporting animals by force even when there are regulations in place. They move at night so when government ringfences some areas for vaccination against the diseases, some people still move animals, defeating the purpose,” Kauta said.

On his part, agriculture minister Frank Tumwebeze attributed the spread to the lack of cooperation and compliance among farmers, cattle traders, and district officials responsible for issuing animal movement permits