The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A row has erupted between Kabale district veterinary officials and Kabale municipality law enforcement officers over the disposal of impounded pork.
The pork was impounded during an operation on Monday, October 21, from Spax Bar and Grill, a popular hangout located in Kabale municipality. The joint is owned by Kabale municipality mayor Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha.
The operation follows quarantine against pork and its products imposed last month amid an outbreak of swine fever in Kabale and Rubanda districts. African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, and exhaustion in pigs. The disease is highly infectious and infected pigs must be slaughtered and their carcasses buried or incinerated.
On Thursday, Kabale district veterinary officer Bernard Kabagambe picked about 30 kilograms of the impounded pork from Kabale police station where it had kept and took it to Kirengyere dumping site for destruction.
Kabagambe, however, met resistance from Kabale municipality law enforcement officers who rushed to the dumping site and blocked his access, saying that he was not supposed to dump pork there. After a lengthy exchange, the law enforcement officers led by their boss Naris Byebiroha demanded an authorization letter from the office of the Town Clerk to dispose of pork at the site.
Kabagambe drove back to his office with pork undisposed saying that the reasons for the denial were invalid. He said that he would seek the intervention of higher authorities to ensure that efforts to put swine fever under control are not thwarted for selfish interests.
******
URN
