The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is considering lifting the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) quarantine on livestock. On February 28th, the Ministry imposed quarantine restrictions in Kampala following an outbreak of FMD in Kabowa, Rubaga Division. Subsequently, the disease spread to over 30 districts across the country, including Ssembabule, Luwero, Mubende, Gomba, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, Kyotera, Lwengo, Fort Portal, Rakai, Ngora, Kibuku, Bukedea, Butaleja, and Mbarara.
Dr. Anna Rose Ademun, Commissioner of Animal Health at MAAIF, told URN in an interview on Wednesday that the disease has been contained following the ongoing livestock vaccination exercise, and the Ministry is contemplating lifting the quarantine this month (July) if no new cases are reported. Notably, the quarantine temporarily halted the movement of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and their by-products, significantly impacting businesses.
Amos Tindyebwa, proprietor of Fresh Cuts Limited, a meat processing company, expressed frustration over stringent restrictions by local and international markets, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, despite FMD not posing a public health or food safety threat. In response, Dr. Ademun explained that while the World Health Organization confirms FMD is not a threat to food safety or public health, consuming meat from healthy animals is a good practice.
She emphasized that an FMD outbreak would severely impact susceptible animals and .
