Agric. & Environment
Govt targets 45 million animals in new mandatory FMD vaccination campaign
The campaign, which begins in July and runs through August, will cover cattle, goats, sheep and pigs across the country under a newly introduced compulsory biannual vaccination programme.
Minister of State for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama addressing the media. (Photos by John Musenze)
By: John Musenze, Journalist @New Vision
________________
The government has launched Uganda's largest livestock vaccination campaign, targeting an estimated 45.5 million animals in a nationwide effort to eliminate recurring outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and protect the country's growing livestock industry.
The campaign, which begins in July and runs through August, will cover cattle, goats, sheep and pigs across the country under a newly introduced compulsory biannual vaccination programme.
Speaking during a media briefing on June 14, 2026, animal industry state minister Bright Rwamirama said the initiative is aimed at building herd immunity, reducing disease outbreaks and safeguarding livestock trade both locally and internationally.
"We are now finalising preparations for the first nationwide mass vaccination campaign that will begin in July and end in August this year. The campaign targets Uganda's estimated 45.5 million susceptible animals comprising 16.5 million cattle, 17.4 million goats, 4.4 million sheep and approximately eight million pigs," Rwamirama said.
The vaccination programme forms part of a new government policy requiring all livestock farmers to vaccinate susceptible animals every six months.
Under the arrangement, farmers will contribute sh8,000 per dose for cattle and pigs and sh4,000 for goats and sheep, while the government will meet the costs of vaccine procurement, distribution, transportation, supervision and disease surveillance.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and certain wildlife species. The disease spreads through direct contact between infected animals, contaminated equipment, animal products, vehicles and people moving between farms.
The vaccination programme forms part of a new government policy requiring all livestock farmers to vaccinate susceptible animals every six months.
Under the arrangement, farmers will contribute sh8,000 per dose for cattle and pigs and sh4,000 for goats and sheep, while the government will meet the costs of vaccine procurement, distribution, transportation, supervision and disease surveillance.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and certain wildlife species. The disease spreads through direct contact between infected animals, contaminated equipment, animal products, vehicles and people moving between farms.
Second Left - Minister of State for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama posing for a group photo with ministry officials after the presser.
It can also be transmitted through airborne particles and significantly affects productivity by reducing milk production, slowing weight gain, causing infertility and restricting livestock trade.
According to Rwamirama, the disease remains one of the biggest threats to Uganda's livestock industry and a major barrier to regional and international trade in animal products.
"Foot-and-mouth disease remains one of the primary threats to progress because outbreaks often result in quarantine, trade disruption, reduced productivity and restricted access to export markets," he said.
Uganda's livestock sector currently supports millions of households and contributes significantly to export earnings.
The country earned approximately $385 million (about sh1.447 trillion) from dairy exports in 2025, up from $285 million (about sh1.07 trillion) the previous year, while exports of hides and skins generated about $12.9 million (about sh48.42 billion). Rwamirama said controlling FMD is critical if Uganda is to sustain growth in dairy, beef and other livestock-related exports.
Massive government investment
To support the vaccination exercise, the government has secured 53.6 million doses of high-potency quadrivalent vaccine designed to protect animals against the major FMD virus strains circulating within the region.
The vaccine stock is expected to cover the country's entire susceptible animal population and support the biannual vaccination schedule. Government has also invested heavily in vaccine storage and transportation infrastructure.
According to Rwamirama, the Ministry of Agriculture has expanded vaccine storage facilities at Entebbe and established 53 solar-powered district vaccine storage centres during the 2025/26 financial year. An additional 40 facilities are expected to be constructed during the 2026/27 financial year.
The ministry has also strengthened refrigerated transport systems to ensure vaccines remain effective throughout the distribution process.
"These investments ensure that vaccines remain safe, effective and readily accessible to livestock farmers nationwide," Rwamirama said.
Progress already registered
Rwamirama said preparations for the vaccination exercise are progressing steadily. As of June 12, more than 20,000 farmers had been successfully registered under the national vaccination system, while approximately 3.5 million animals had already been enrolled for vaccination.
Registration and mobilisation activities have been conducted in major livestock-producing districts, including Nakaseke, Kyankwanzi, Kiruhura, Rukungiri, Kasese, Kazo, Isingiro, Rakai, Kayunga, Mbarara, Kyegegwa, Mubende, Kasanda, Gomba, Kiboga, Mpigi and Ntungamo, among others.
District veterinary teams are currently conducting farmer sensitisation and developing detailed vaccination plans ahead of the nationwide rollout.
The government hopes to achieve at least 80% vaccination coverage during every vaccination cycle, a threshold experts consider necessary for effective disease control through herd immunity.
Dr Jolly Kabirizi, director of Kyakuwa Mixed Farm in Seguku and a member of the Dairy Farmers Network (DAFAN), described the initiative as a timely intervention.
"Treating affected animals is very expensive, costing over sh100,000 compared to the sh8,000 required under the cost-sharing scheme. We should all embrace this move because when animals get sick, farmers lose milk, meat and sometimes entire animals," she said.
Henry Sight Lugoloobi, director of Sight Farm in Namulonge and chairman of the Uganda Best Farmers Coalition, said the cost of vaccination is negligible compared to the value of livestock.
"A single cow can cost between sh2 million and sh5 million. Spending sh8,000 to protect such an investment should not be difficult for any serious farmer," he said.
He added that stricter enforcement would be necessary to ensure all livestock owners comply with the vaccination programme.
"As we live in a global village, we need to understand that we are also farming under a global herd. If one farm is affected, the disease can spread widely and cause quarantines and trade bans that affect everyone," Lugoloobi noted.
Uganda's livestock sector currently supports millions of households and contributes significantly to export earnings.
The country earned approximately $385 million (about sh1.447 trillion) from dairy exports in 2025, up from $285 million (about sh1.07 trillion) the previous year, while exports of hides and skins generated about $12.9 million (about sh48.42 billion). Rwamirama said controlling FMD is critical if Uganda is to sustain growth in dairy, beef and other livestock-related exports.
Massive government investment
To support the vaccination exercise, the government has secured 53.6 million doses of high-potency quadrivalent vaccine designed to protect animals against the major FMD virus strains circulating within the region.
The vaccine stock is expected to cover the country's entire susceptible animal population and support the biannual vaccination schedule. Government has also invested heavily in vaccine storage and transportation infrastructure.
According to Rwamirama, the Ministry of Agriculture has expanded vaccine storage facilities at Entebbe and established 53 solar-powered district vaccine storage centres during the 2025/26 financial year. An additional 40 facilities are expected to be constructed during the 2026/27 financial year.
The ministry has also strengthened refrigerated transport systems to ensure vaccines remain effective throughout the distribution process.
"These investments ensure that vaccines remain safe, effective and readily accessible to livestock farmers nationwide," Rwamirama said.
Progress already registered
Rwamirama said preparations for the vaccination exercise are progressing steadily. As of June 12, more than 20,000 farmers had been successfully registered under the national vaccination system, while approximately 3.5 million animals had already been enrolled for vaccination.
Registration and mobilisation activities have been conducted in major livestock-producing districts, including Nakaseke, Kyankwanzi, Kiruhura, Rukungiri, Kasese, Kazo, Isingiro, Rakai, Kayunga, Mbarara, Kyegegwa, Mubende, Kasanda, Gomba, Kiboga, Mpigi and Ntungamo, among others.
District veterinary teams are currently conducting farmer sensitisation and developing detailed vaccination plans ahead of the nationwide rollout.
The government hopes to achieve at least 80% vaccination coverage during every vaccination cycle, a threshold experts consider necessary for effective disease control through herd immunity.
Dr Jolly Kabirizi, director of Kyakuwa Mixed Farm in Seguku and a member of the Dairy Farmers Network (DAFAN), described the initiative as a timely intervention.
"Treating affected animals is very expensive, costing over sh100,000 compared to the sh8,000 required under the cost-sharing scheme. We should all embrace this move because when animals get sick, farmers lose milk, meat and sometimes entire animals," she said.
Henry Sight Lugoloobi, director of Sight Farm in Namulonge and chairman of the Uganda Best Farmers Coalition, said the cost of vaccination is negligible compared to the value of livestock.
"A single cow can cost between sh2 million and sh5 million. Spending sh8,000 to protect such an investment should not be difficult for any serious farmer," he said.
He added that stricter enforcement would be necessary to ensure all livestock owners comply with the vaccination programme.
"As we live in a global village, we need to understand that we are also farming under a global herd. If one farm is affected, the disease can spread widely and cause quarantines and trade bans that affect everyone," Lugoloobi noted.