Kampala traders not yet aware of gov't ban on sale of meat
It is business usual in abattoirs in Kampala despite the Ministry of Agriculture directive banning the sale of meat and closure of all slaughter places in Kampala over foot ans mouth disease
Dealers in meat say they have not received any notification about the closure.
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Government has reported cases of foot and mouth disease in Kampala and has since directed KCCA to enforce quarantine guidelines to prevent further spread of the disease
In a document signed by the commissioner animal health, Dr. Anna Rose Ademun, there are cases of foot and moth disease reported in Rubaga division, in Kampala
Subsequently the ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries has placed a ban on movement and sale of all cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and their products in Kampala
In the same directive, live stock markets, slaughter places, butcheries, loading grounds and animal shows have also been banned
Whereas cases were registered on February, 28 and ban instituted on March, 1, business in butcheries in Kampala continues as usual.
Lorries continue to ferry in cattle and the slaughter business continues.
The traders say they have not received any directives nor have they been informed of any cases of foot and mouth disease in Kampala.
“It’s so unfortunate that such a document can circulate without our knowledge. There should have been an engagement between us and the ministry,”says Captain Aubrey Ssazi one of the leaders at Kalerwe abattoir.
The news about the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Kampala is a shock to these traders.
They accuse government of neglecting its duty to prevent the disease from spreading from the parts it has been reported
"Whose responsibility is it to control foot and mouth disease? There are no farms in Kampala. There are no cows in Kampala which come without being examined. How come there’s foot and mouth in Kampala? It’s very unfortunate," Ssazi said.
The director of public health in the ministry of health, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze has however commended the ministry for coming up with the directive and cautioned the public against consuming any meat given the existing cases of foot and mouth disease
“The safety of what we eat is paramount and important for us to keep healthy," he said.
Kyabayinze hopes the public heeds to the directive, failure of which, several lives will be at risk.
“Taking infected meat is not something we desire to have,” he says.
The ban is now causing debate among meat consumers who are now weighing on the options they have.
“What do they want us to eat, silverfish'” asked Brian Kawenja a meat consumer.
“I have now to resort to beans. The meat has even now become expensive,” said another meat consumer
Foot and mouth disease has been reported in close to 40 districts across the country.
Cattle business has been banned in all these districts
