Uganda, Tanzania discuss Foot and Mouth disease control

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The Minister of Agricultural, Animals Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, wants East African Community member states to come out with preventive measures on Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) and zoonotic outbreaks.  

Tumwebaze made the remarks at the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) training workshop for delegates from both countries at Kabira Club in Kampala on Monday.

“It is crucial to recognize private sector actors in the livestock sector where we maintain borders between our countries. There a number of factors that affect us,” Tumwebaze said.

Tumwebaze said they congregate in the same market and in doing so they share risks which need to be addressed jointly.

He said government allocates substantial funds to procure vaccines and supports vaccination campaigns, adding that due to resource constraints, the qualities procured fall short of the requirement, insisting why it is a welcome gesture to have the private sector in the struggle.

A cross-section of delegates from Tanzania and Uganda during the opening of the Foot and mouth training workshop and the private sector at Kabira Club in Kampala on August 21, 2023. (All Photos by Wilfred Sanya)

He revealed that Uganda and Tanzania have been engaged in numerous discussions to address the challenges of diseases but have not yet received the primary results due to underestimation of the pivoted role played by the private sector.

The acting director veterinary services (Tanzania), Dr. Oscar Mbyuzi said regarding the control of diseases, there is a challenge for animal disease.

He said governments should harmonise measures of prevention and more especially on foot and mouth disease.

The Foot and Mouth Disease is currently ravaging up to 40 districts, predominantly in the cattle corridor. However, various stakeholders working with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) noted that despite the outbreak, there has not been strict enforcement of the quarantine and ban on livestock movements as a measure to curb the spread of the disease.

Experts in the livestock sector want the government to investigate the various strains of the FMD virus to curb further outbreaks.

According to the experts, a blanket solution like vaccination prior to identifying virus serotypes could cause further complications for the lucrative sector.