Members of Parliament have criticized the government’s response to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in cattle-keeping districts of Uganda. They have questioned why the government has failed to set up a vaccine manufacturing facility to combat the disease.
The Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Frank Tumwebaze, recently presented a statement to Parliament on the government’s steps to control the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease.
He reiterated the Cabinet’s resolutions, including the purchase of 10 million doses of FMD vaccines which will be used to vaccinate the affected and neighboring districts that are at high risk.
The minister also announced that farmers will be required to pay for the FMD vaccines. The government will meet other related costs. This measure is expected to play a monumental part in decisions to lift quarantine restrictions. However, legislators have criticized the government for poor planning, wondering why it has taken so long to set up an FMD vaccine manufacturing facility despite continuous FMD outbreaks.
MPs are also advising that FMD vaccination should be conducted simultaneously on the same day throughout the country to avoid leaving gaps. They expressed a need for the government to act swiftly before cattle farmers become more disgruntled.
