Leaders rally Kyankwanzi farmers as FMD vaccination coverage lags at 20%
Meanwhile, Rose Kabagyeni, the senior presidential advisor on agriculture, said the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease had affected Uganda's livestock market, with some international buyers suspending purchases of animal products.
Livestock farmers and district leaders attend a stakeholder engagement meeting organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries at Rwebisiliza Hall in Kyankwanzi District to discuss strategies to combat Foot and Mouth Disease through mass vaccination. (Photo by Godfrey Asiimwe).
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has called for joint efforts among livestock farmers, district leaders and other stakeholders to combat the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Kyankwanzi district.
The call was made by James Kakungulu, the commissioner for animal health and production, during a meeting with district leaders and livestock farmers at Rwebisiliza Hall in Butemba town council, Kyankwanzi district.
Kakungulu said the engagement aimed to mobilise farmers to embrace mass vaccination as one of the key measures to control the disease, which has affected several districts, including Kyankwanzi.
He revealed that the district had so far achieved only 20% vaccination coverage but expressed optimism that this would increase to 100%.
“We want all livestock, including cattle, goats, sheep and pigs, to be vaccinated so that we can effectively control the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease,” Kakungulu said.
He explained that the Government would meet 40% of the vaccination cost, while farmers would contribute the remaining 60%.
Under the arrangement, farmers will pay sh8,000 per head of cattle and pigs, while goats and sheep will attract a vaccination fee of sh4,000 per animal.
Meanwhile, Rose Kabagyeni, the senior presidential advisor on agriculture, said the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease had affected Uganda's livestock market, with some international buyers suspending purchases of animal products.
“Foot and Mouth Disease has affected our livestock market because some countries that used to buy our products are no longer doing so. I therefore call upon leaders to ensure that all animals in their respective areas are vaccinated,” Kabagyeni said.
Kyankwanzi deputy resident district commissioner Peruth Kabale expressed concern over farmers who continued to neglect vaccination and violate animal movement restrictions imposed to contain the disease.
She warned that authorities would take firm action against farmers who refused to cooperate with the vaccination exercise and urged stakeholders to work together to enforce the restrictions.
“We have some farmers who have neglected vaccination, while others continue moving their animals despite the restrictions. Those who refuse to vaccinate their animals will be handled with an iron hand,” Kabale warned.
Kyankwanzi district chairperson Samuel Ssemugaba called on the agriculture ministry to support farmers with tractors to help dig trenches that would prevent cattle from moving out of farms and spreading the disease.
He also urged farmers to monitor one another and report those who deliberately refused to vaccinate their animals or violated the movement restrictions.
Moses Achong, the Kyankwanzi district production and marketing officer, revealed that the district had received 145,070 vaccine doses, of which 60,100 had so far been administered.
However, he highlighted several challenges affecting the vaccination exercise, including inadequate facilitation for veterinary staff, shortages of protective gear and rising fuel prices, which had made it difficult for vaccination teams to reach farmers in different areas.
He appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene and provide additional support to strengthen the exercise.
Meanwhile, livestock farmer Abel Muhanguzi commended the government for introducing the vaccination programme but appealed for the exercise to be made completely free.
He argued that farmers keeping large numbers of animals might struggle to raise their required contribution, potentially affecting the district's efforts to achieve universal vaccination coverage.
The concerns come as authorities continue efforts to contain Foot and Mouth Disease in Kyankwanzi, where the outbreak has disrupted livestock trade and other animal-related activities.
Foot and Mouth Disease remains a major threat to Uganda's livestock sector, affecting cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals. The disease causes reduced milk production, loss of livestock productivity and restrictions on animal movement.
In 2026, outbreaks have been reported in several districts, including Nakasongola, Namisindwa, Ntungamo, Madi-Okollo and Kazo.
Other districts included in the Government's livestock vaccination programme are Kyankwanzi, Mubende, Kassanda, Nakaseke, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Rakai, Isingiro, Kazo, Ntungamo, Kasese and Rukungiri, among others.
The agriculture ministry estimates Uganda's susceptible livestock population at approximately 44.5 million animals, with a vaccination coverage target of at least 80% per vaccination cycle.