Sh2.7b disease control centre to boost Teso’s livestock

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Teso sub-region is set to benefit from its first-ever Zonal Animal Diseases Control Centre, a project by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF). 

The sh2.7 billion facility funded by the African Development Bank (ADB), is under construction on government land at Katine sub-county by Greystone Investments Ltd. 

Once complete, it will house laboratories, cattle crushes, an administration block, and staff accommodation.

Clerk of works Violah Komugisha highlighted that the nine-month construction project, supervised by MAAIF engineers, began on December 4 last year and is expected to be completed by October 2025.

One of the structures being constructed for the disease control centre. Looking on is the Lt. Gen, Peter Elwelu and Soroti district leaders. (Photo by Emmanuel Alomu)

According to Komugisha, the project is still in the early stages of foundation laying, with the completion rate currently standing at five percent.

Simon Peter Edoru, the Soroti district LC5 chairperson, explained that this centre is the first of its kind in the eastern region, following the establishment of a similar facility in the western part of the country.

Lt Gen. Peter Elwelu, the chief monitor of Government projects in the Teso and Karamoja sub-regions, visited the site alongside the Soroti district leadership on Monday, March 10. He said that Teso deserved this facility because the region is home to cattle keepers.

“I believe once it's operational, the diseases that have been affecting most animals in the region will be history,” Gen. Elwelu said.

He added, “This is what the Teso sub-region has been lacking. The Government has bridged this gap.”

However, he urged the Government to also construct breeding centres to improve the quality of the local Zebu cattle kept in Teso.

The district leadership confirmed that they have already secured about 100 acres in Acuna, Tubur sub-county for the breeding centre, but the Government has not yet allocated any funding for it.