Security and veterinary officials have suspended animal and animal product markets in Ntungamo District following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in some parts of the district. The animal movement quarantine will also affect Rukiga District.
The Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner, Ms Marriam Kagaiga Mugisha, who chairs the disease surveillance committee of the district, said all animal markets, milk, milk products as well as sheep, goats, pigs and their products will not be allowed to move within and outside the district.
She noted that whereas many farmers shall be economically affected, this will go a step in enforcing discipline in trade and among farmers to ensure the disease does not spread.
The Ntungamo District Veterinary Officer, Dr. Yaake Basulira, said cases have been identified in Ngoma Sub-county confirming suspicion of the disease that normally spreads during dry periods, calling for quarantine.
Slaughter slabs, butcheries, dairies and milk coolers, meat roasting centres will all be closed. Hotels will be banned from cooking and serving such products until May 27, 2026.
The quarantine comes just eight months after full opening of markets following intervention of Parliament that forced the minister for animal industry to direct reopening of the markets.
For the past 15 years, the markets in the Ankole corridor have had challenges of different animal diseases including anthrax, Rift Valley Fever, lumpy skin disease, foot and mouth disease among others that at different times lead to closure of markets.
Traders and farmers say the quarantine will affect them economically since animal trade is their source of livelihood.
Meat and animal products consumers shall be forced to be vegetarians or feed on fish and birds during the quarantine period.
Dr Yaake notes that anyone found with meat or any animal product shall be asked to produce a movement license in case it was bought from a district outside the quarantine area.