Uganda Government through the agriculture ministry to construct livestock receiving centres at cattle markets along the border districts.

The facilities will be used for health examinations, and checking for disease-causing organisms among others.

Information gathered will be used to either isolate the sick animals for treatment or destroy them, as a measure of controlling transboundary diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) reported in about 36 districts in Uganda.

The agriculture minister, Frank Tumwebaze, made the revelation while presenting cabinet decisions about the management of FMD to Parliament on Thursday.

Such facilities will be funded through a World Bank Loan under the Uganda Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP).

The six-year project worth shillings 1.3 trillion is being implemented by the agriculture ministry and its agencies like the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), National Animal Genetics Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) and Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA).

Districts to be considered for permanent structures include Isingiro, Kyotera, Rakai and those bordering South Sudan, Ntungamo and Kasese, Tumwebaze told Parliament.

“So, we will prioritize border districts with quarantine infrastructure to test cows coming into the country, detect illegal movement,” he added.

In terms of finding a lasting solution, he said the Animal Disease Act is being reviewed to ensure that there are stringent measures governing illegal animal movement.

While responding to concerns from Gomba West Member of Parliament Robina Rwakojo for affirmative action in districts most hit by FMD, Tumwebaze explained that the first batch of the 10 million doses will be given out to farmers for free, while paying for vaccines starts in July this year.

In the meantime, he emphasized the need for biosecurity in managing all animal diseases to reduce the spread.