House okays additional sh4.5b for foot-and-mouth
Aug 03, 2006
PARLIAMENT yesterday passed a motion authorising the Government to incur additional expenditure of sh4.5b for emergency control and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease that is threatening to engulf the country.
By Joyce Namutebi
PARLIAMENT yesterday passed a motion authorising the Government to incur additional expenditure of sh4.5b for emergency control and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease that is threatening to engulf the country.
Finance state minister Jachan Omach said there was “emergency pressure†that required immediate purchase of at least two million doses of the vaccine to contain the disease in the affected districts and surrounding areas.
He warned that if the disease spreads near Entebbe International Airport, a ban may be slammed on international flights.
He also warned that the spread of the disease could lead to Uganda being banned from exporting animals and animal products to regional and international markets and affect tourism as foreign guests would be advised not to travel to quarantined areas.
Omach said at the emergency special sitting of Parliament that the disease had spread to 16 districts. The districts include Rakai, Isingiro, ntungamo, Mbarara, Masaka, Mpigi, Kampala and Mukono.
Others are Bushenyi, Luweero, Nakaseke, kiboga, mubende, Kabale, Kasese and Kitgum.
Omach said the sh4.5b was in addition to the vote on the account of the agriculture ministry for this financial year.
The sitting was called to handle emergency business that could not wait until August 15, when plenary sittings are to resume.
Opposition shadow minister for health and Ngora MP Francis Epetait supported the motion but said there should be routine vaccination of animals.
He said at an appropriate time, he would move a motion to have the agriculture ministry split because the livestock sector was grossly under-funded.
PARLIAMENT yesterday passed a motion authorising the Government to incur additional expenditure of sh4.5b for emergency control and eradication of foot-and-mouth disease that is threatening to engulf the country.
Finance state minister Jachan Omach said there was “emergency pressure†that required immediate purchase of at least two million doses of the vaccine to contain the disease in the affected districts and surrounding areas.
He warned that if the disease spreads near Entebbe International Airport, a ban may be slammed on international flights.
He also warned that the spread of the disease could lead to Uganda being banned from exporting animals and animal products to regional and international markets and affect tourism as foreign guests would be advised not to travel to quarantined areas.
Omach said at the emergency special sitting of Parliament that the disease had spread to 16 districts. The districts include Rakai, Isingiro, ntungamo, Mbarara, Masaka, Mpigi, Kampala and Mukono.
Others are Bushenyi, Luweero, Nakaseke, kiboga, mubende, Kabale, Kasese and Kitgum.
Omach said the sh4.5b was in addition to the vote on the account of the agriculture ministry for this financial year.
The sitting was called to handle emergency business that could not wait until August 15, when plenary sittings are to resume.
Opposition shadow minister for health and Ngora MP Francis Epetait supported the motion but said there should be routine vaccination of animals.
He said at an appropriate time, he would move a motion to have the agriculture ministry split because the livestock sector was grossly under-funded.