ZOMBO, August 25, 2026 — The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF] has rallied the Production Department of Zombo District Local Government, political leaders and lead farmers to promote government’s new foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] mass vaccination policy.
The development follows MAAIF’s efforts to raise awareness across the country about the nationwide rollout of compulsory mass vaccination of cattle, goats, sheep and pigs against FMD.
FMD is a severe and highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. It affects cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals.
It is a transboundary animal disease [TAD] that affects livestock production and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products.
MAAIF is implementing a government-approved policy shift in the control and management of FMD through a compulsory biannual mass vaccination programme under a cost-recovery scheme.
The current vaccination campaign is scheduled for July and August 2026.
Speaking during an engagement with Zombo district stakeholders recently, MAAIF Senior Veterinary Officer Dr Charles Oryema said the new policy requires farmers pay subsidized user fees per dose, while the government covers logistics, cold chain storage, distribution, and veterinary supervision. Farmers co-fund the cost of vaccines at Shs 8,000 per cow, and pig and Shs 4,000 for each goat, sheep.
Oryema said the Government, through MAAIF, covers the costs of vaccine importation, delivery, cold-chain maintenance, vaccination, and quality assurance.
He said district extension officers have been tasked with educating and mobilising farmers, as well as explaining the new FMD vaccination policy.
Dr Agopiyo Emmanuel, the Zombo District Veterinary Officer [DVO], urged MAAIF to establish cold-chain facilities for storing veterinary medicines and to gazette quarantine areas for animals.
Zombo District Agricultural Officer Patrick Aneniwu, who represented the District Production Officer [DPO], Dr Walter Kumakech, said MAAIF should focus greater attention on livestock production in Zombo, noting that the district is prone to pest and disease outbreaks from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC].
“Pests and diseases are supposed to be controlled from DR Congo. For example, banana bunchy disease was reported in Ituri Province of DR Congo 20 years ago and has now affected bananas in Zombo District,” Aneniwu said.
Patrick Komakech, the Secretary for Works and Technical Services, pledged the district’s support for the implementation of the new compulsory livestock mass vaccination campaign.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Zombo, Isaac Urochi, urged district workers to desist from behaviours that could hamper the FMD vaccination programme.
Farmers speak out on compulsory FMD mass vaccination
Ankwa Moses Okumu, a cattle farmer in Nyarambe Village, Nyapea Sub-county, welcomed the cost-sharing scheme and appealed to MAAIF to embark on a mass improvement programme for local East African breeds by supporting farmers to acquire high-quality livestock.
Retired veterinary officer Dr Moris Ocweda encouraged farmers to embrace the beef and dairy value chains.
“For Zombo farmers, let us take up cattle keeping,” Ocweda said.
“For West Nile farmers, we should embrace improved breeds to increase incomes,” he added.
He noted that government has established two valley dams in Zombo district for farmers in Jangokoro and Paidha sub-counties.
He urged government to maintain routine livestock treatment programmes against diseases and ensure regular deworming.
Ocweda also appealed to MAAIF to consider establishing a bull scheme in every sub-county in Northern Uganda.
Another farmer, Ben Odagi, urged MAAIF to ensure that the quality of dairy cattle distributed to farmers is properly verified.
“Five years ago, the Government supplied dairy cattle to farmers in Zombo district, but they were of poor quality,” Odagi said.
https://thecooperator.news/fmd-factory-to-cut-vaccine-prices-minister/
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