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GOMBA - President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the production of more Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine doses to combat the viral livestock infection affecting Uganda.

In a meeting held Sunday at his Kisozi farm in Gomba District, the President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni, emphasised the urgent need to vaccinate Uganda's substantial livestock population.

“You should make more vaccines because Uganda has a lot of livestock. Uganda has 44 million livestock,” President Museveni appealed to the Egyptian government.

The President highlighted that Uganda's livestock includes 16 million cows, along with goats, pigs, and other domestic animals. He stressed that all these animals need vaccination to prevent the spread of FMD.

In a meeting held Sunday at his Kisozi farm in Gomba District, the President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni, emphasised the urgent need to vaccinate Uganda's substantial livestock population. (All Photos by PPU)

President Museveni praised the partnership between the Egyptian and Ugandan governments through the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). He noted that such collaborations would expedite research and development processes, leading to effective solutions.

The Egyptian government has already supplied Uganda with 10 million doses of the FMD vaccine at a subsidised price of $0.90 per dose. The first batch of 3 million doses has been delivered, with another 3 million doses expected within three weeks.

This was disclosed during the meeting by agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze.
Tumwebaze highlighted that this consignment from Egypt is the largest FMD vaccine delivery Uganda has received to date.

The minister also announced plans to partner with NARO to establish a vaccine production factory in Uganda. This factory will use local samples to develop a fourth strain of the vaccine, enabling comprehensive protection against FMD.

Gen. Mohsen Azouz, the director of the Veterinary Service Department in Egypt, assured President Museveni that the remaining vaccine doses would be delivered promptly.

Gen. Mohsen Azouz, the director of the Veterinary Service Department in Egypt, assured President Museveni that the remaining vaccine doses would be delivered promptly.

He reiterated Egypt's commitment to strengthening the partnership between the two countries.

Dr Anna Rose Okurut Ademun, the commissioner for animal health in Uganda’s agriculture ministry, explained that Uganda and Egypt will collaborate to develop the Serotype SAT 1 strain from Uganda into a vaccine strain.

The FMD vaccine currently includes four serotypes; Serotype "O," Serotype "A," SAT 1, and SAT 2.

The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including animal industry state minister Bright Rwamirama, agriculture ministry permanent secretary Maj. Gen. David Kyomukama Kasura, and Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding.