FARMERS SUPPORT BI-ANNUAL LIVESTOCK VACCINATION DESPITE COST-SHARING DEBATES

Dr Willy Nguma, Arua district production officer, Acting Veterinary officer and regional focal person West Nile Veterinary Laboratory, during interview with Radio Pacis

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The farmers in the West Nile region have responded to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries’ (MAAIF) implementation of a mandatory, bi-annual vaccination policy targeting all cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep) to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

The initiative has received mixed reactions; farmers in border and transit areas generally support the effort to protect their livelihoods, although concerns have been raised about the new cost-sharing model and its affordability.

Dr. Willy Nguma, the Arua district production officer and acting veterinary officer, noted that only vaccinated animals will receive official movement permits and gain access to formal livestock markets and trade activities.

“Enforcement of this policy will be in a way that one who has not vaccinated his or her animal shall be prohibited from legally moving his animal from the farm to a market for sale, not even selling the meat for such an animal which is infected,” he said.

While some farmers, like Christine Ayikoru from Vurra Sub-county, support the policy, she opposes the cost-sharing scheme between farmers and the government.

“ The farmers are the least neglected people in the country, so why do they want to add more costs on this people again and again, that would have been an expense for the government not now the farmers because they cannot come with ideas and then they push it on farmers, for other activities they push money but they are neglecting farmers, they want to push expenses on farmers when actually farmers are not benefiting at all,” She said.

Others, such as Paul Andiku Aguta from Pajulu, Arua city, have questioned the vaccination charges, worrying that the fees may be too high for small-scale farmers.

“The move for the government to vaccinate or give treatment for the animals like goats, sheep, pigs will have been okay, but problem again is the money which they have levied on each goat or sheep, four thousand will be too much for our people. If the government could put one thousand on each goat or two thousand on each goat or animal, it will favor the people,” he said.

The vaccination schedule requires animals to be vaccinated every six months, typically in July–August and January–February. Farmers pay subsidized user fees of Shs 8,000 per dose for cattle and pigs, and Shs 4,000 for goats and sheep, paid directly through bank transfers.

The government covers procurement, cold-chain storage, transportation, and veterinary services associated with the vaccination process. Additionally, the policy builds on cross-border initiatives, including Memoranda of Understanding with neighboring countries, to secure transit routes and prevent re-infection through porous borders.