The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has lifted the animal quarantine imposed in Amuru District over Food and Mouth Disease, FMD.
On February 2, 2023, MAAIF restricted the movement of goats, cattle, sheep, and their products within and outside the district following an outbreak of FMD in Lakang and Pogo Sub-Counties, in line with the Animal Act Cap 38.
On November 16th, the Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Grace Freedom Kwiyocwiny told journalists that the MAAIF had halted the movement of animals from the district ahead of the eviction of the migrant cattle keepers commonly known as the balalo on November 25th.
However, in a letter dated November 20th, to Amuru district leaders through the Chief Administrative Officer, Dr. Anna Rose Adumun, the Commissioner of Animal Health at MAAIF, lifted the quarantine with immediate effect.
“The animal movement restrictions that have been in force since then coupled with increased community awareness about FMD and the strategic ring vaccinations carried in the affected areas have brought the disease under control,” the letter read in part.
The first phase of the forceful eviction of migrant cattle keepers, commonly known as the balalo from northern Uganda is expected to start immediately after the deadline given by President Yoweri Museveni expires on November 24th.
On November 3, President Yoweri Museveni gave the migrant cattle keepers who are occupying government land as well as private land without having installed fences, or having water sources for their animals three weeks to leave northern Uganda.
Stephen Odong Latek, the RDC Amuru, said they have already identified 86 non-compliant cattle keepers with an estimated 4,000 heads of cattle in the district who will be evicted first.
Amuru district is said to have 15.5 percent migrant cattle keepers, the highest number compared to other districts according to a report by the implementation committee of Executive Order Number 3.
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