Leonard Makya, the Chairperson of Lukaya Animal Traders and Butcher Owners Association says closing down operations of livestock-related businesses have got grave financial implications they cannot bear with.
Butchers and livestock dealers in Lukaya town council, Kalungu
district are protesting the enforcement of livestock movement restrictions.
At the beginning of this month, Doctor Anna Rose Ademun the Commissioner
for Animal Health in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and
Fisheries directed veterinary authorities to enforce livestock movement
quarantine in some parts of Kalungu district following the confirmed outbreak
of Foot and Mouth Disease-FMD in the area.
Dr Ademun instructed that the Town Council of Lukaya, and sub-counties
of Bukulula and Lwebenge, all in Kalungu district be put under quarantine with
the prohibited movement of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and all their
by-products, as well as closing down of all livestock markets, slaughter places
including butcheries and animal shows in the affected areas.
However, a section on traders who survive on livestock products in
Lukaya town council is protesting the quarantine restrictions, arguing that
their sources of income have greatly been affected.
Leonard Makya, the Chairperson of Lukaya Animal Traders and
Butcher Owners Association says closing down operations of livestock-related
businesses have got grave financial implications they cannot bear with.
He says they are protesting what he describes as unreasonable
enforcement of quarantine restrictions, which also include barring them from
bringing livestock and products from areas that are still free from the
FDM.
Makya indicates that close to 200 people whose survival depends on
livestock products are being affected by the quarantine restrictions yet they
have highly demanding responsibilities to meet.
//Cue in: (Luganda) “batukulizzanga
okujja….
Cue out; ….batumalidde mu makomera.”//
Rashid Kibudde and Jamiruh Igga, who are butchers in Lukaya town
council are also protesting what they say is selective enforcement of
quarantine that has left some people to freely continue operations while others
are under a lockdown.
Igga argues that some people with milk coolers in the quarantined
areas are still freely operating yet others in the same line of business are
restricted.
//Cue in; n’ekirala ekyewunyisa…..
Cue out; ……okuyambibwako
n’omusawo.”//
The affected livestock has put the Kalungu Resident Commissioner
on notice, demanding that he engages the Commissioner for Animal Health to
release the restrictions or else they violate the quarantine orders.
Daniel Ssimbwa, the Kalungu District Veterinary Officer when
contacted declined to comment about the raised concern and disputed modalities
of enforcing the quarantine.
But Caleb Tukaikiriza, the Kalungu Resident District Commissioner
confirms receiving notice of the affected traders, indicating that he will
organize a meeting between the farmers and a team from the Ministry of
Agriculture to forge a way forward.
