The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has instructed the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries to provide an update on the progress made in containing foot-and-mouth disease across the country.
The deputy speaker acknowledged concerns raised by a section of farmers regarding the Ministry’s enforced quarantine measures.
Tayebwa stated that farmers whose livelihoods depend on these animals need to be informed what the government is doing as a long term measure to contain the disease minus quarantine.
In response to a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the Ministry of Agriculture has imposed a quarantine on 32 districts across the country.
The affected districts, including Gomba, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, and Sembabule, have reported numerous cases of the disease in their herds.
Tayebwa directed the agriculture minister to present a statement on Thursday next week, providing details on the duration of the quarantine in these districts and its expected continuation.
He further directed the minister to update Parliament on the kind of support required from other stakeholders, including members of Parliament, to address this matter.
Uganda is home to approximately 40 million livestock, including 16 million goats, 15 million cattle, 5.6 million sheep, and 5 million swine.
