Ntungamo District Eases FMD Quarantine, Allows Cattle Slaughtering, Loading and Offloading

Ntungamo District has eased restrictions imposed under the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) quarantine, allowing the slaughtering, loading and offloading of cattle in most sub-counties and town councils.

The resolution was made today during a district stakeholders’ meeting attended by the technical team, including town clerks, sub-county chiefs, mayors, LC3 chairpersons, farmers, butchers and dairy farmers. The FMD quarantine has lasted for the last eight months, affecting farmers, cattle markets, butchers and local revenue collections.

Mrs. Miriam Mugisha Kagiga, the Ntungamo District Resident District Commissioner, appreciated the efforts made by district veterinary officers and farmers in fighting FMD over the last eight months. She said all sub-counties and town councils have been allowed to resume slaughtering, loading and offloading of cattle, provided they follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for preventing the spread of FMD.

However, the sub-counties of Rwikiniro, Ngoma and Rubaare Town Council will remain under total quarantine, with only the movement of milk allowed. She added that cattle markets will remain under quarantine for the next one month.

Ntungamo District Veterinary Officer, Yake Basulira, said six parishes in the three affected areas of Rubaare Town Council, Rwikiniro and Ngoma are still affected by FMD, prompting authorities to maintain the quarantine for another month.

He noted that the authorities will demarcate designated loading and offloading centres, where specific dates will be allocated for the movement of cattle.

Farmers and butchers welcomed the easing of the FMD quarantine by the authorities, saying they had been facing heavy losses. They said they would follow the guidelines issued by the district to ensure that businesses return to normal after eight months of restrictions.

Yasin Katafa Byamukama, Mayor of Nyamunuka Town Council, together with Justus Batarigaya, LC5 Councillor for Ngoma Sub-county, said several meetings between farmers, the business community and butchers will be held to ensure that the SOPs are followed.

They noted that local revenue collections had declined due to the restrictions, with the government losing revenue from businesses affected by the quarantine. Justus, whose sub-county remains under quarantine, called for strict measures to ensure that the one-month extension yields positive results.

The FMD quarantine has lasted for over eight months, causing significant losses to farmers and the government through reduced revenue collections. With the easing of restrictions, businesses will now resume, although cattle markets will remain closed and the slaughtering of animals will be supervised by Veterinary Extension Workers.