Kabarole district and Fort Portal city have partially lifted the quarantine on livestock movement that was put in place to contain the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) two months ago.

The government imposed a total livestock quarantine in Fort Portal city and Kabarole district following the outbreak on January 19, 2024, and authorities have since been implementing control measures that include the ban on the movement and sale of cattle and their products.

The resolutions for the partial lifting were presented during a meeting of city and district leadership meeting with livestock dealers and leaders in the Fort Portal city RCC's board room in Booma on Saturday, March 16.

According to Dr Stanley Businge, the Fort Portal city veterinary officer, the agriculture minister issued more guidelines for the control of FMD and animal movements during quarantine restrictions and safety in non-affected areas on February 2, 2024.

“New guidelines were issued to us on February 2, 2024, and as Fort Portal city and Kabarole district, we are supposed to customise them to suit our local settings," said Dr Businge.

"Quarantine restrictions are reduced to wards/parish level and thus the need to jealously guard all major entry and exit routes to, through, and from Kabarole and Fort Portal city which shall include Kamwenge Road, Kasese Road, Bundibugyo Road and Kampala Road," added Businge.

He explained that all animal traders shall now be allowed to operate upon payment of a cattle trader’s license and should move with the license as per the minister's guidelines.

New restrictions

Catherine Kamwiine the Resident City Commissioner emphasised that livestock traders have been given two weeks to elect leaders and register with the city and district veterinary offices to allow them to operate.

“All livestock traders are ordered to have functional administration with their elected leaders and be profiled /registered at division/sub-county/town council levels and their details be submitted to the CVO and DVO within two weeks" emphasised Kamwiine.

Kamwine pointed out that the joint task force resolved not to allow any animal for slaughter and breeding purposes from outside Kabarole and Fort Portal city except on a special permit from the commissioner of animal health.

Richard Rwabuhinga, the chairperson LC5 Kabarole district noted that LC1 chairpersons are to write letters or agreements for all animals sold and bought for slaughter and breeding purposes accompanied by a no-objection letter from the DVO/CVO and a valid livestock movement permit.

"No animal shall be moved on foot, bicycle or motorcycle from any farm to any destination within Kabarole and Fort Portal city except by vehicle and tricycle/tukutuku and are to move only during day time from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm with chairpersons’ agreement and DVO/CVO's permit," Rwabuhinga said.

He added that all livestock markets remain closed and the sale of roasted meat (emikaro) is prohibited.

Dr Henry Mulondo, the Kabarole district veterinary officer warned that any butchery found with uninspected meat will be closed and the operator prosecuted under provisions of the Animal Disease Control Act cap 38.

“Only meat that has been inspected and passed shall be allowed in the butcheries. Meat must bear the stamp of the area meat inspector," Dr Mulondo said.

What butchers say

David Kabyanga, a butcher from Mugusu Town Council in Kabarole district, narrated the hardships he has faced during the livestock quarantine since the trade was his only source of income.

"It’s just a new beginning for my family and my children have never gone back to school since the closure of livestock business in Kabarole district and Fort Portal city, being that selling meat was the only source of income," Kabyanga stated.

He added that to ensure that the livestock quarantine is fully lifted after one month as envisaged by the FMD task force members, stakeholders need to ensure that all the guidelines are implemented.

Dennis Mweru, the chairperson of Kacwamba Abattoir expressed appreciation for the partial lifting of the quarantine, emphasising that slaughtering will only be allowed from 7:00 am to 10:00 am.