Cattle markets reopen in Kazo district after containment of FMD

MBARARA – After spending almost three months battling foot and mouth disease [ FMD], Kazo district has officially re-opened all cattle markets in the district.

According to the district production officer, John Baptist Asiimwe, cattle markets were closed effective March 2023 whereby no trader or farmer was allowed to transport any animals or animal products from Kazo and Kiruhura districts to other districts.

Asiimwe said a three-month ban has helped the district authorities to contain the spread of FMD in Kigorogoro cell, Bwantama cell, Kyabahura parish, and Buremba town council.

According to a letter seen by this news website, the resolution to lift the FMD quarantine was reached during the meeting held by the livestock traders, butchers, animal transporters, and sub-county leaders held at the district headquarters on Wednesday. Among the re-opened markets include; Kyenshama, Kyeibuza, and Nyakasharara.

During the meeting, Dr. Ronald Kiyemba, the Kazo district veterinary officer, disclosed that a team of veterinary doctors from the Agriculture Ministry dispelled no more FMD outbreak in the Kazo district.

Dr. Kiyemba however urged farmers in the district to be cooperative and vigilant to prevent more FMD outbreak in the district.

Meanwhile, livestock traders including the tenderers of the markets vowed to ensure full implementation of the resolutions to control the spread of the disease in Kazo district and Buremba town council.

Rev. Samuel Mugisha Katugunda, Kazo district LCV chairperson urged cattle dealers to always spray the Fuso trucks during loading and offloading of cattle to avoid fresh FMD spread in the district.

Livestock traders and market tenderers said they would ensure full implementation of the resolutions put across to control the spread of the disease in the district.

“We know the pain we have gone through spending three months without working. Some of our children never reported to school this term. So, colleagues, I advise that we embrace resolutions to fight this disease [FMD],” said David Kananura, a cattle trader.

Ham Rubainika, a district councillor representing Kyampagara Sub-county and a secretary for production reported that the new district approximately lost Shs 30 million from cattle markets gate collections over the temporary ban.

“Cattle markets are the biggest contributors of the district’s local revenue but when you check in the last three months nothing has been earned so far. However, we have hope that we will collect some money since the markets have been reopened,” he noted.

James Matagyizi, the mayor of Buremba town council said some farmers were giving neighbours free milk because of the FMD-related ban.

https://thecooperator.news/mbarara-haunted-by-fmd-and-lockdown/

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