FMD Resurgence Leaves Lyantonde Meat Consumers, Dealers Stranded

Lyantonde District has suspended the sale of meat following the resurgence of Foot and Mouth Disease- FMD. This comes two weeks after FMD was confirmed in Lyantonde and several other districts across the country.

The others are Ssembabule, Kalungu, Rakai, Kampala, Gomba, Wakiso, Kiboga, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kyankwanzi, Kyotera, Koboko, Bukedea, Mbarara, Masindi, Mukono,Nakaseke, Nakasongolo, Rubirizi, Ibanda and Serere districts.  

Dr. Ronald Bameka, the Lyantonde District Veterinary Officer (DVO), says more than 500 animals especially cows and goats are infected. He says they decided to close all butcheries, pork joints and cattle markets to control the spread of the disease.  

//Cue in: “We closed all the markets………………..    

Cue out:…………..the livestock were cautioned.”//    

He says they have also stopped the importation of meat and other animal products from the neighbouring district of Lwengo, despite the fact that some people are flouting the directive.   So far, two local restaurants in Lyantonde town have been closed for preparing meat. Twelve others have received warning against preparing meat during the quarantine.  

 

//Cue in: “Still people were stealthy…………..  

  Cue out:…………..is under total quarantine.”//    

In Lyantonde, Lyakajura, Kinuuka, Kyemamba and Kasagama sub-counties are often hit by FMD, which usually spreads from Kiruhura and Sembabule.   Restaurant owners have appealed to the authorities to allow them to buy meat from other districts that are free from FMD.

Rose Nakaggwa, who operates a small restaurant at Lyantonde market, says that most of her clients are meat consumers and fears losing them amid the quarantine.  Ismail Lukyamuzi sells roasted meat at Kabula stage. He explains that he has not been working for the last two weeks, which forced him to use his capital to feed his family.

Lukyamuzi is stranded since he depends on the meat roasting business to look after his family.  Being cattle districts, Lyantonde is prone to FMD outbreak and is among the 14 districts that were quarantined in 2017 for over 10 months.  

Others were Sembabule, Luweero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Mubende, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Sheema and some parts of Karamoja. FMD is an infectious and sometimes a fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids.

The foot and mouth of the animal develop soars that leave the animal in excruciating pain. In most cases, the infected animal cannot move or eat which may result in death.