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KASESE - Health experts have warned Kasese district residents against sharing houses with domestic animals. 

The experts say such a move raises the residents' risk of contracting zoonotic diseases.

The caution comes amidst reports that some households are opting to keep their livestock in their residential houses at night following an upsurge of thefts that involves breaking into animal shelters in the district.

The warning was sounded during a one-day meeting organised by Trans-cultural Physiological Organisation on March 22, 2024, at Virina Gardens in Kasese municipality.

Frustrating PDM

Kasese district production co-ordinator Julius Baluku said livestock kept in the living houses included goats, chickens, sheep, and pigs.

Baluku said the rampant thefts are frustrating Government poverty-eradication initiatives including the much-hyped Parish Develoment Model (PDM), which is aimed at enriching the last mile Ugandan citizens.

“Some residents are opting out of such programmes because they don’t see why they should work hard only to lose to the thieves,” Baluku told New Vision Online on March 24.

Harmful

Samson Muhindo Mugisha, the Animal husbandry officer for Mpondwe-Lhubiriha town council, said animals harbour harmful germs, bacteria, and parasites that can spread to humans, which may cause many illnesses that can turn out fatal.

“Much as livestock animals may look healthy, there are chances that they can have deadly diseases such as Rift Valley fever, rabies, anthrax, and brucellosis,” Muhindo said.

Do not use human drugs to treat animals

Bwera General Hospital medical laboratory technologist Fredrick Masereka, who was among the facilitators, cautioned locals against using human drugs to treat animals.

“It makes organisms resistant to treatment besides making meat unfit for human consumption,” he said.

Samuel Mumbere from the office of the Chief Administrative Officer appealed to leaders and stakeholders to consider equipping community members with knowledge about the rearing of animals since it is one of the income-generating activities.

Monday Gerevazio Bwambale, the Kasese district secretary for social services, hailed the organisers for the timely engagement.