Park animals not responsible for spreading FMD, UWA tells farmers, others

KIRUHURA– A section of veterinary doctors and farmers in western Uganda have for some time blamed the increase in the spread of foot and mouth disease [ FMD ] in the area on the game park animals that occasionally graze on the neighbouring livestock farms.

They claim that wild animals that spread FMD to their livestock come from Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo Conservation Area [LMCA].

According to Dr. Ronald Bameka, FMD has desolated livestock farming in Kiruhura, Isingiro, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Kazo, Sembabule districts Ntungamo among others.

Bameka pinpoints Lake Mburo National Park, where some livestock graze during the dry spell, as the likely source of FMD.

“The national park [Lake Mburo National Park] is the reservoir of FMD because some of the wild animals like pigs, buffalos and warthogs can contract and transmit the disease without showing any signs,” he said.

Bameka says most of the cases of FMD have been found in Nshara Ranch and Nyakashashara, both neighbouring Lake Mburo National Park.

Andrew Akashaba, the Mbarara district veterinary officer, avers that since the wild animals are rarely vaccinated, they endanger the domestic animals which graze with them on the farms.

He adds that the wild animals have also increased tick resistance in domestic animals in the cattle corridor.

“Wild animals are not sprayed and the moment they mix with goats and cows on farms, they eventually spread ticks to the livestock,” Akashaba said.

However, while meeting journalists and Mbarara city leadership on Friday, Bashir Hangi, the UWA senior communications manager, said those claiming that wild animals have spread FMD to domestic animals don’t know what they are talking about and should stop misleading the farmers and general public.

“People who are saying that animals in the national parks spread FMD domestic animals don’t know what they are talking about,” he claimed. However, research done elsewhere [Japan] indicates that unvaccinated wild animals can spread FMD to domestic animals.

Arthur Kule Musinguzi, chief warden, Lake Mburo Conservation Area said use of acaricides by farmers to kill ticks affect exotic cattle and nature.

He said human-wildlife conflict is a very big challenge hurting the wildlife conservation in the country.

Meanwhile, Mbarara City mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi during the meeting with UWA officials, encouraged Ugandans to embrace local tourism to explore the beauty of physical features, animals and birds in their country.

“We should not wait for somebody from Switzerland to start telling us about the beauty of our game parks and other physical features. Let’s tell people to come and enjoy the beauty of wildlife, mountains, water bodies among others,” Kakyebezi said.

During this financial year, UWA released over Shs 420 million to Mbarara City, Isingiro and Kiruhura local governments as part of local revenue sharing with the communities neighbouring game parks.

https://thecooperator.news/uwa-to-erect-beehive-fence-in-mitooma-as-elephants-ravage-farms/

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