Ibanda livestock stakeholders gang up on FMD and anthrax

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IBANDA - Livestock sector stakeholders in Ibanda municipality have launched a joint assault against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and anthrax in the municipality. 

FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.

Anthrax, a disease transmissible from animals to humans, typically affects ruminants such as cows, sheep, and goats.

In Ibanda, there are existing interventions by the district authorities to stem the spread of the two infections threatening the livestock sector and its value chain.

On Friday (February 2), the livestock stakeholders partnered with district and municipality authorities and formed a joint task force to help in the enforcement of animal and animal products quarantine announced at the beginning of this week by the chief administrative officer.

The nine-strong team will work with the district security team under the office of the resident district commissioner and veterinary department to ensure the quarantine rules are followed. 

The group also has the mandate to apprehend anyone caught breaking the guidelines, besides carrying farmer and community sensitization drives, among others.

“If we make good progress within the next three weeks, I will consult the [agriculture] ministry on the possibility of reopening the sector for business," said district veterinary officer Dr Hilary Arinaitwe during a meeting of stakeholders at Ibanda Municipal Council Hall on Friday.

'We must work together'

Frank Buhonda, a farmer from Ishongororo, tasked the stakeholders with working as vigilantes in their respective areas to ensure that no one flouts the quarantine guidelines.
He said they are the first line of defence against the spread FMD and anthrax.

“We shouldn’t wait for the authorities to enforce the quarantine restrictions. Let’s put in place footbaths at our farms and control access. We must work together and act against those breaking the rules for the good of the majority and to protect the industry,” Buhonda told the meeting.

Farmers called for stronger enforcement, saying laxity in enforcing the restrictions exposed the safe areas to infection. 

“Some people slaughter goats in the bushes and deliver the meat door-to-door and supply hotels. This shows a big loophole in enforcement of the quarantine rules, which these people are exploiting to put the community and livestock sector at risk," said Patience Katunge, a farmer from Bisheshe division.

Farmer Elias Kaijuka from Bugarama said alleged corruption among enforcement agencies was compromising efforts to stop the spread of FMD and anthrax.

Boaz Katunda, the chairman of cattle traders in Kakatsi, Bisheshe division, said farmers who move animals and graze in other people’s lands in the villages or along roads in towns were a risk factor and should be stopped forthwith.

Ibanda is among the over 30 districts fighting FMD and anthrax outbreaks, some of which have registered infections, which has put a strain on their respective economies.
The affected districts include Kazo, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Lyantonde, Rwampara and Isingiro.

'Don't be cheated'

Meanwhile, district veterinary officer Dr Arinaitwe said the government has no FMD vaccines presently and that the procurement process for the vaccines was in advanced stages.

He also said only 800 doses of anthrax vaccines have been allocated for Ibanda district. 
Farmers were warned that the purported FMD vaccine on the market is fake and must be avoided to safeguard the animals and their money.

Arinaitwe said that the agriculture ministry traced the origin of the said fake vaccine to the manufacturer, but it was found to be counterfeit. 

"So, don’t be cheated by these unscrupulous individuals who want to profit from your misery."

The DVO advised the farmers to buy vaccines from a private vet drugs supplier (Eram Uganda), which is approved by the National Drug Authority.

Meatless parties

Relatedly, the Ibanda district veterinary officer announced a ban on the slaughter of animals at wedding parties and burial ceremonies, among other events. 

The district, which had hitherto allowed supervised slaughter of animals at these functions, has stopped the practice with immediate effect, said Arinaitwe.

Moses Kakikiri, the municipality works secretary, had earlier raised the issue, saying that the health inspectors were only interested in money and never took samples to carry out tests to verify whether an animal was sick or not before being slaughtered.