Uganda receives 3million doses of Foot and Mouth vaccines from Egypt
In a bid boost to Uganda's agricultural sector, the country has received a shipment of 3 million doses of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines from Egypt.
The consignment marks the first time such a large number of vaccine doses has been delivered at once to Uganda, signaling a major step in combating the highly contagious livestock disease.
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The vaccines were formally received at Entebbe International Airport by Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), Frank Tumwebaze.
The Deputy Minister for Agriculture from Egypt, along with the Egyptian Defense Attaché to Uganda, officially handed over the vaccines.
Present at the handover were the Minister of State for Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama, MAAIF Permanent Secretary, Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, and other senior ministry officials.
This vaccine acquisition, achieved at subsidized costs, comes at a critical time for Uganda.
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture imposed a quarantine on 32 districts due to a new outbreak of FMD, sparking concern and unrest in the cattle corridor.
This region is heavily dependent on milk and beef production, with millions of Ugandans relying on livestock for their livelihoods.
The affected districts, including Luwero, Gomba, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, and Sembabule, have reported numerous cases of FMD within their herds. In response, the Ministry has banned the movement of livestock and livestock products into, out of, or through these districts to prevent further spread of the disease.
Uganda's total susceptible animal herd, requiring FMD vaccination, is estimated at 44 million.
This necessitates an annual vaccine stock of 88 million doses for the bi-annual vaccination schedule, costing $2 per dose and amounting to $176 million per year.
