Uganda has received a new shipment of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines from Egypt. This latest delivery includes 2.5 million doses to help improve Uganda’s vaccination efforts against the disease.
The vaccines were officially received on November 14, 2024, by Maj Gen David Mugisha, who represented the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, at the reception ceremony.
“This is the third shipment of FMD vaccines from Egypt. Earlier this year, we received 3 million doses in May and another 3 million in July. These earlier shipments were also received in the presence of Gen Kainerugaba and Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze,” Maj Gen Mugisha said.
He explained that the FMD outbreak has forced the government to quarantine 32 districts, causing significant problems in the cattle corridor of Uganda. Some of the affected districts include Luwero, Gomba, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, and Sembabule. To control the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture has restricted the movement of livestock and livestock products into and out of these districts.
Maj Gen Mugisha noted that Uganda has a livestock population that requires 44 million doses of FMD vaccine each year. To meet this demand, the country needs a bi-annual vaccination program that costs about $176 million annually.
The event was attended by Col McDans Kamugira, the CDF’s Military Assistant, and Egyptian representatives, including Dr. Amgad Nagy from the Egyptian agriculture ministry and Brig Gen Mohamed Embaby, the Egyptian Defence Attaché to Uganda.
This timely delivery of vaccines follows discussions between the CDF and Egyptian officials. In October, the CDF met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Cairo to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, the Egyptian government has previously donated equipment to support the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) in enhancing local vaccine production.
