KITGUM, June 22, 2026 — Kitgum district is set to vaccinate more than 110,000 livestock against Foot-and-Mouth Disease [FMD] this year under government’s new nationwide compulsory vaccination programme.
Dr Francis Omona, the Kitgum district Veterinary Officer, told stakeholders at a recent meeting held at the district headquarters that the exercise will target 48,000 cattle, 33,000 goats, 11,000 sheep and 18,000 pigs as part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries’ mass vaccination campaign.
The national campaign, announced by Dr Charles Oryem, Senior Veterinary Officer in the ministry’s Disease Control Division, aims to vaccinate 44 million susceptible animals across Uganda every six months.
According to Oryem, the Agriculture ministry has procured 50 million vaccine doses and plans to conduct the exercise twice annually during January–February and June–July.
“Under this scheme, the Ministry plans to vaccinate around 17 million cattle, approximately 15 million goats, 7.1 million pigs and 8 million sheep nationwide,” Oryem said during the stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Kitgum.
The ministry is implementing the programme through a cost recovery scheme under which farmers will contribute towards replenishing vaccine stocks.
Godfrey Kahuta, Assistant Commissioner for Veterinary and Public Animal Health at the ministry, said farmers will pay Shs8,000 per animal for cattle and pigs, and Shs4,000 per animal for goats and sheep. Payments will be made through Pearl Dairy Bank or Housing Finance Bank.
“The money farmers pay will be used to replenish the vaccines administered. If a farmer pays, it ensures vaccines will be available for the next six months,” Kahuta explained.
Omona said his office, working jointly with the district production department and other stakeholders, would ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage across Kitgum.
He noted that FMD remains one of the most economically damaging livestock diseases, causing reduced milk production, weight loss and restrictions on livestock trade.
Meanwhile, Kitgum Assistant Resident District Commissioner Joseph Okidi warned agricultural extension workers against inflating vaccination figures for personal gain, stressing that only animals paid for by farmers should be vaccinated.
“The Office of the Resident District Commissioner, as the representative of the central government, will closely monitor this scheme because government has invested substantial resources into it,” Okidi said.
The biannual vaccination campaign marks a shift from reactive containment of FMD outbreaks to a preventive and scheduled vaccination approach.
Districts across northern Uganda, including Kitgum, Lamwo and Amuru, have repeatedly experienced FMD-related quarantines that have disrupted livestock trade and affected household incomes.
https://thecooperator.news/quarantine-imposed-on-livestock-trade-as-fmd-strikes-nebbi-district/
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