In a bid to combat the widespread outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) affecting cattle in Uganda, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called upon the government of Egypt to provide additional doses of vaccines to the country.
During a meeting held at his Kisozi farm in Gomba District on May 27, 2024, President Museveni, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education Janet Museveni, appealed to a delegation of Egyptian officials to assist in the fight against FMD by bringing in more vaccines.
According to reports, Uganda is home to a staggering 44 million livestock, including 16 million cows, as well as goats, pigs, and other domestic animals. President Museveni highlighted the urgent need for an increased vaccine supply, stressing the magnitude of Uganda’s livestock population.
“You should make more vaccines because Uganda has a lot of livestock. Uganda has 44 million livestock,” requested President Museveni, appealing to the Egyptian government for assistance.
President Museveni also expressed his appreciation for the partnership between the Egyptian and Ugandan governments through the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO). He emphasized that collaboration would expedite research and improve outcomes in combating the disease.
The call for additional vaccines comes after the Egyptian government recently provided Uganda with 10 million doses of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine at a subsidized cost of 0.9USD or 90 cents per dose. Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, confirmed that the first consignment of 3 million doses has already been delivered, with an additional 3 million doses expected to arrive within the next three weeks.
Minister Tumwebaze hailed the Egyptian contribution as the largest consignment of FMD vaccines that Uganda has received to date.
Furthermore, Minister Tumwebaze disclosed plans for the Ugandan government to collaborate with NARO in establishing a local vaccine production facility. The partnership aims to train Ugandan experts in using the country’s samples to develop a fourth strain of the vaccine. The process will involve taking a field strain from Uganda, matching it with their laboratory strain, and conducting complete mixing to develop a quadrivalent vaccine.
Gen. Mohsen Azouz, Director of the Veterinary Service Department in Egypt, reassured President Museveni that the remaining vaccine doses would be dispatched promptly, highlighting Egypt’s commitment to supporting Uganda in this partnership.
Dr. Anna Rose Okurut Ademun, the Ugandan Commissioner of Animal Health in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, explained that the joint effort between the Ugandan and Egyptian governments aimed to develop Serotype SAT 1 from a local field strain. The objective is to create a fourth strain of the vaccine, alongside the existing Serotype “O,” Serotype “A,” SAT 1, and SAT 2 strains.
The meeting also saw the attendance of Hon. Bright Rwamirama, the Minister of State for Animal Industry, Maj. Gen. David Kyomukama Kasura, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, and Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, Deputy Chief of Defense Forces.
With the urgent need for vaccines to contain the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, Uganda remains hopeful that the partnership with Egypt will help safeguard its precious livestock sector and preserve the livelihoods of millions of farmers across the country.
