Leaders and livestock experts in Fort Portal City have urged farmers to ensure all their animals are vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) to prevent the spread of the highly contagious livestock disease.
The call was made during the launch of a citywide FMD vaccination campaign after Fort Portal City received 10,880 vaccine doses from the government.
Under the exercise, cattle farmers will pay 8,000 shillings per dose while owners of goats and sheep will pay 4,000 shillings per dose to facilitate the vaccination process.City leaders warned that livestock owners who fail to vaccinate their animals risk exposing the entire community to disease outbreaks and could face penalties.
Rev. Willy Kintu Muhanga, the Fort Portal City Mayor, appealed to farmers to embrace the exercise, noting that controlling FMD requires collective action from all livestock keepers.He also urged farmers to cooperate with veterinary teams and ensure their animals are vaccinated within the scheduled period.
Dr. Stanley Businge, the Fort Portal City Veterinary Officer, warned that animals found unvaccinated during the campaign could attract penalties for their owners. He emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective way of preventing the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease, which can cause significant economic losses to farmers.
However, Patrick Agaba Muhenda, the Fort Portal City Production Officer, noted that despite receiving vaccines from the government, the city still faces challenges related to vaccine storage facilities.He explained that the City lacks adequate cold-chain storage infrastructure, which is necessary to preserve the vaccines and ensure the success of future animal health interventions.
Farmers welcomed the initiative, saying it will help protect their livelihoods and reduce losses associated with livestock diseases.Tom Rubaale, a farmer, expressed optimism that the vaccination campaign will safeguard animals and improve productivity if widely embraced by livestock keepers. URN