The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Ntoroko, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Local leaders and farmers in Ntoroko district are living in fear of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease following an influx of pastoralists from DR Congo.
The pastoralists are running away from instability in Boga.
Dr. Bagonza Patrick Businge, the principle production officer Ntoroko district says pastoralists enter the district at night and there are vivid clinical cases that their cattle have the disease.
He says the district is struggling to get a holding ground to ensure all cattle from DRC are put in one place for examination.
Businge adds that majority of the pastoralists are entering the district through Kanara sub county.
Businge says they have written to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries -MIAAF asking for vaccination drugs so that all animals that cross into the district are first treated before they move into communities.
He says the district had pockets of the disease but it was contained at the on-set.
David Kori from Kanara town council say pastoralists from DRC are making their kraals vulnerable to the disease.
He says some of the pastoralists are already in the community and sharing the same resources including drinking points.
Asaba Stephen says the influx of Congolese pastoralists is likely to fuel conflicts over resources.
He appeals to the security forces in the district to monitor all persons entering the district with animals.
RDC Misaki Kawamara said some of the cattle keepers are running away with their cattle in big numbers.
He says there is need for mass vaccination of all animals to contain the possible FMD outbreak in the district.
Kawamara says they estimate over 2,000 cows have entered the district from DR Congo.
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