DanChurchAid
Uganda
Cattle rustling spreading cattle diseases in Karamoja
By David Mafabi, journalist, the Daily Monitor, Uganda
The executive manager Karamoja Agro-pastrol development programme [KADP], Mr. Michael Kuskus said cattle rustling done by the Karimajong warriors amongst the Turkana and Pokot of Kenya was responsible for the spread of Foot and mouth disease, Rinderpest and Peste Des Petits Ruminants [PPR] in the region.
“The Infectious livestock disease that has broken out in the district of Moroto and parts Nakapiripiriti district killing hundreds of animals like any other livestock disease found its way into Uganda from Kenya through cattle rustling by Karimajong warriors across the borders,” said Kuskus.
Kuskus was 30 July speaking to Daily Monitor at Bokora about the outbreak of a strange infectious disease believed to be PPR in the area that has seen hundreds of cattle and goats infected and that when they die, their meat turns yellow.
PPR believed to have started way back in April but that efforts to get response from the authorities in the ministry of Agriculture, animal industrial and fisheries have been futile despite several correspondents.
The district Livestock development assistant attached to KADP, Mr Simon Peter Louse says that the outbreak of the strange disease puts the livestock under communual grazing at a great risk.
Louse said that whereas UPDF introduced communual grazing with good intentions, the outbreak of diseases is likely to see exteinction of livestock since there will be easy transmission and contraction of infectious diseases.
“The only way livestock can be saved from extinction in case of an outbreak of contagious diseases is for UPDF to disband the communual grazing and kraals but continue providing security for the animals at family kraals,” said Louse.
The Vice chairman LCV for Moroto Ms Rose Adero consented most diseases are brought in Karamoja through cattle raided from neighbouring pastoral communities in neighbouring Kenya.
Adero said PPR had been reported in parts of Kenya amongst the Pokot and Turkana pastoral communities and that it has spread so fat to Uganda through some of the animals raided by the Karimojong warriors.
When contacted for a comment, the District Veterinary Officer, Mr. Vincent Okwii consented there was an outbreak of a strange contagious disease in the district but quickly added that the situation is being monitored and would soon be put under control.
Okwii revealed that samples of blood for dead animals taken to the ministry of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries and later taken to international laboratories in London for testing have confirmed the existence of Pest Petit Ruminantae [PPR] disease in Karamoja region.
According to Food and Agricultural Organisation health manual Peste Des Petits Ruminants [PPR] is a highly contagious disease of domestic and wild small ruminants which was first detected in Ivory Cost in West Africa in 1942.
The manual is part of the series prepared by FAO Emergency System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases [EMPRES] Livestock unit reveals that PPR belongs to the morbillivirus group of the Paramyxovirus family of viruses closesly related to rinderpest and the measles virus of human beings.
The manual reveals further that the disease is characterized by discharges from the mouth, nose and eye, sores in the mouth, diarrhea, Pneumonia with breathing problems and a significant death rate of animals.
Whereas there are a lot of fears here that the disease could affect human beings, Okwii declined to comment and refered this reporter to the ministry of agriculture, aninal husbandry and fisheries.
Okwi said that since the ministry of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries has confirmed the disease, a mechanism is being sought to bring the situation under control within the shortest time possible.
The commissioner of Livestock health and entomology in the ministry of Agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries could not be reached for a comment as his phone was not available.
Karamoja region is apparently the biggest supplier of cattle for beef in Soroti, Kumi, Bukedea, Lira, Gulu, Sironko, Mbale and Pallisa districts.
DanChurchaid and the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission are funding a drought preparedness program in the districts of Moroto and Nakapiripirit, which is helping the Karimojongs in developing their traditional way of living as agro-pastoralists. DanChurchAid has invited two journalists from the leading Ugandan newspapers, The Daily Monitor and The New Vision, to see the work of the local partner KADP.
DanChurchAid has a Framework Partnership Agreement with ECHO enabling DanChurchAid to implement ECHO funded projects worldwide in a broad range of sectors including water and sanitation, food aid, shelter, non-food item to humanitarian mine action. Visit website: ECHO
