Farmers Urged to Pay Shs8,000 FMD Vaccine Fee to Unlock Export Markets

Rose Ademun

Farmers across Uganda have been urged to contribute Shs8,000 per animal towards Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination, as government intensifies efforts to access lucrative international markets for livestock products.

Dr. Rose Ademun, Commissioner for Animal Production and Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), said the contribution is minimal compared to the long-term benefits of disease control and expanded export opportunities.

Her remarks follow concerns raised by livestock farmers in the Karamoja sub-region, who described the fee as too high.

Dr. Ademun acknowledged that for years, government has struggled to provide sufficient FMD vaccines, meeting only between 2% and 10% of national demand—a gap that has hindered Uganda’s ability to export beef, milk, hides, and skins.

“We have not been able to access international markets because we cannot guarantee that our animals are free from Foot and Mouth Disease,” she said.

She revealed that the urgency to address the disease intensified after President Yoweri Museveni received communication from Algeria declining to import Ugandan milk unless the country proves it has been free of FMD for at least one year.

“That is when government realized that to access better markets, we must decisively deal with FMD,” she noted.

In response, government adopted a new strategy to fully finance vaccine procurement and recover costs through a revolving fund, where farmers contribute a subsidised fee to sustain future vaccine purchases.

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In 2024, government secured funding to procure up to 53 million doses of the vaccine, significantly boosting the country’s capacity to control the disease.

Under the current arrangement, farmers are required to pay Shs8,000 per cow or pig, and Shs4,000 for goats and sheep.

Dr. Ademun urged farmers to embrace the programme, saying the cost is manageable and necessary for long-term gains.

“If you have many animals, you can sell one and protect the rest. The Shs8,000 is a small contribution compared to the benefits of accessing better-paying markets,” she said.

She emphasized the need for a mindset shift among farmers, calling for collective responsibility in tackling FMD.

“We must work together to ensure our animals are vaccinated so that Uganda can compete in regional and international markets,” she added.

If successfully implemented, the vaccination campaign is expected to position Uganda to tap into markets across North Africa and beyond, boosting incomes for livestock farmers and the national economy.