By Namutumba, Uganda — Veterinary officials in Namutumba District have extended their campaign to vaccinate one million cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) until the end of August. The extension follows an outbreak of the disease in various parts of the country, prompting the government to initiate a nationwide vaccination drive.
Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals, both domestic and wild. The disease is characterized by high fever, which typically lasts between two to six days, followed by blisters in the mouth and near the hooves, which can rupture and cause lameness.
Dr. Samuel Kibwika, the Namutumba District Veterinary Officer, noted that the vaccination campaign in the district began in June and was initially scheduled to conclude in July. However, the timeline has been extended to ensure that all cattle in the district are vaccinated. “So far, over 5,000 cattle out of the targeted one million have been vaccinated,” Dr. Kibwika reported on Tuesday.
He emphasized that the vaccination exercise is free of charge, as the government has provided sufficient supplies of the vaccine. “Farmers are urged to bring their animals to our designated vaccination centers throughout the district. In addition to vaccinating, we are also spraying against ticks, which can cause fatal infections in livestock,” he added.
Dr. Julius Mwanja, the Namutumba Sub-county Veterinary Officer, explained that they are using a vaccine that contains FMD strains FM1, 2, and 3. He cautioned farmers against exposing their vaccinated animals to direct sunlight, as the vaccine is less effective in high temperatures and could potentially harm the animals.
“Farmers who have vaccinated their animals should ensure they are not kept under direct sunlight, as the FMD vaccine we are administering can lead to complications in such conditions,” Dr. Mwanja advised.
Vaccination efforts are being conducted at cattle dips across all 20 sub-counties in the district. However, Dr. Emmanuel Mawogore, another veterinary officer, expressed concern that many farmers are only bringing cattle for vaccination, neglecting their goats and sheep, particularly in areas like Kibaale Town Council and Kibaale Sub-county, where sheep farming is more prevalent.
Namutumba District Chairperson, Mr. David Mukisa, acknowledged the ongoing sensitization efforts but noted that farmers still do not take the vaccination of goats and sheep as seriously as they do for cattle.
Stephen Mukembo, a dairy farmer from Nakyere Village in Namutumba Sub-county, observed that farmers tend to prioritize cattle over smaller livestock, such as goats and sheep. “Many farmers don’t value their goats and sheep as much as their cattle and are less concerned about losing them,” he said.
Another dairy farmer, William Maganda, attributed the lack of awareness about the importance of vaccinating sheep and goats to insufficient sensitization efforts.
Background
Foot and Mouth Disease remains endemic in Uganda, with livestock movements across porous borders contributing significantly to the spread of transboundary animal diseases. Namutumba District experienced a severe outbreak of FMD in 2017, leading to the imposition of quarantine measures and subsequent vaccination efforts in 2017 and 2018. Additional inoculations were carried out last year following an outbreak in the neighboring districts of Butaleja and Budaka. During this period, traders turned to the Teso Sub-region for livestock and related products due to the restrictions in Namutumba.
