DanChurchAid
Uganda
Strange livestock disease breaks out in Moroto
By David Mafabi, journalist, the Daily Monitor, Uganda
The strange disease is 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.
While speaking to Daily Monitor at Bokora in Moroto 13 July, Louse said the livestock especially cattle and goats infected with the strange disease when they die, their meat turns yellow.
He revealed that the disease should have been imported from neighbouring Kenya particularily Turkana and Pokot through cross border cattle raids.
“Efforts to have livestock preserved as the only source livelihood for the Karimojong are likely to fade due to an outbreak of a strange disease that is likely yo wipe out all the livestock in the region,” said Louse.
The Karamoja Agro-pastoral Development Programme manager, Mr. Michael Kuskus says that the outbreak of the strange disease puts the livestock under communual grazing at a great risk.
Kuskus said that whereas UPDF introduced communula grazing with good intentions, the outbreak of diseases is likely to see exteinction of livestock since there will be esay transmission and contraction of 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 proving security for the animals at family kraals,” said Kukus.
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.
He revealed that once infected by the strange viral disease the livestock gets diarrhea, nosal discharge, emaciates and later dies.
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
