Leaders in Nakasongola district have raised a red flag over relocation of unvaccinated heads of cattle to their areas amidst Foot and Mouth Disease.
In June this year, a fresh outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was reported in Kakooge town council and the Veterinary Office reacted by imposing a ban on the movement of animals and the sale of their products.
Although the disease has so far been contained before it spread to other sub-counties, district leaders say other areas may experience fresh outbreaks of FMD over the influx of cattle from neighbor districts.
Richard Miiro Kigayaza the Nakasongola district councillor for Nabiswera sub-county says that several people including officers of Uganda People’s Defense Forces have bought land in their area and bring in heads of cattle daily without following procedures.
Kigayaza says that the cattle are transported at night to newly acquired farms without any document to show whteher they were vaccinated and allowed to move by veterinary officers in the districts.
Kigayaza adds that because the officers are armed, LC 1 leaders are powerless and unable to restrain such movements.
He says that they registered cases of outbreak of FMD at Butiiti village but this was partly due to cattle that were brought from a neighboring district.
Sam Butagasa the Chairperson of Nakasongola District Production Committee says that in the past the district has struggled with containing Foot and Mouth Disease which is always spread by non vaccinated cattle from other districts.
Butagasa says that once restrictions are imposed, it’s always the local pastoralists who entirely depend on the cattle that suffer most.
Butagasa says that they have appealed to District Security Committee asking them to restrain the armed people from bringing in cattle that are not vaccinated against FMD.
The Nakasongola District Veterinary Officer Dr. Sam Eswaggu confirmed the fears saying many cattle that are relocated without documentation about their vaccination and these may spread the FMD.
Sam Kigula the LC 5 Chairman of Nakasongola says that apart from soldiers, even businessmen have bought the land and relocated heads of cattle without evidence of vaccination.
Kigula says that he will table the matter in the next District Security Committee meeting for action.
He however noted that he started to set up vigilante teams per each village and these will be able to give them information on any person who relocates cattle there without proper documentation.
There are over 269,000 heads of cattle in Nakasongola according to the district veterinary office.
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The cattle owners should be responsible.