By KT Reporter
Authorities in Moroto District have launched a mass livestock vaccination campaign in a concerted effort to combat the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and other animal infections.
The exercise, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) through the Moroto District Local Government, is being supported by Welthungerhilfe, a German development organization.
The campaign, which began last week, targets over 300,000 cattle across the district. So far, the veterinary team has vaccinated 11,211 head of cattle, 9,643 goats, and 9,516 sheep. Additionally, 115 dogs and 4 cats have been vaccinated against rabies, and livestock are being sprayed for parasites as part of the integrated response.
According to Dr. Moses Okino, the District Veterinary Officer, the campaign is a multi-disease intervention aimed at improving livestock health and reducing trade-sensitive disease outbreaks.
He emphasized that spraying acts as an incentive to encourage pastoralists to present more animals for vaccination.
Dr. Okino explained that the transhumance livestock production system, common in the region, contributes to the endemic nature of FMD due to free cross-border movement of animals in search of pasture and water—especially across the border with Kenya.
“The movement of livestock, people, and even contaminated food or water continues to spread the disease,” he said.
He revealed that while Moroto had frequent FMD outbreaks prior to 2017, the district adopted seasonal vaccination calendars and began engaging development partners to enhance their capacity.
As a result, no new case has been reported in the past seven years.
Dr. Francis Inangolet, the District Production Officer, said Moroto is now among the few districts in Uganda with no recent FMD cases. He recounted an incident when the ministry dispatched a verification team after suspecting the district of underreporting cases—only to find the area FMD-free.
“Whether we have funds or not, as long as we have the vaccine, our teams always find a way to reach the livestock,” Inangolet stated.
Local pastoralists have welcomed the campaign, saying it will help protect their animals from deadly diseases. Emmanuel Lokiru, a herdsman, said his community has suffered frequent livestock losses due to unexplained illnesses.
“We sometimes tried treating our animals with local herbs, but the recovery rate was very low. This vaccination is a big relief,” Lokiru said, urging the government to also provide vaccines against ticks and de-wormers, which remain a major threat.
The Moroto vaccination campaign is part of a nationwide initiative by MAAIF to improve animal health, bolster livestock trade, and promote sustainable pastoral livelihoods in Uganda’s semi-arid regions-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
