Stephen Odong Latek, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner, says the herdsmen were transporting 132 cattle into the district without any valid identification.
Six herdsmen accused of violating the livestock quarantine
meant to contain the spread of the highly contagious Foot and Mouth Disease-FMD in Gulu district are in police custody.
The suspects are Godfrey Kato,
Frank Mugabi, Goodluck Tumuhirwe, Abel Tuhabwe, Emmanuel Kalangu and Godfrey
Mutebi.
David Mudong Ongom, the Aswa River Region
Police Spokesperson, says that the suspects were picked up from Paicho, Patiko and Palaro Sub –Counties in
Gulu District on Monday on the orders of the Resident District Commissioner
and the District Veterinary Officer.
He says that the suspects were found transporting cattle into the district contrary to the ban of livestock
movement in and out of the
district.
According to Mudong, the suspects have been slapped
with charges of illegal
transportation of animals within quarantine area vide SD 48/27/09/2021.
Stephen Odong Latek, the Gulu Resident District
Commissioner, says
the herdsmen were transporting 132 cattle into the district without any valid identification.
He says
that they impounded the animals and are waiting for guidance from the District Veterinary Department on their next course of
action.
//Cue in: “The animals that…
Cue out …the other areas.” //
Latek says that they also ensure
the owners of the animals record statements with the police.
On September 3rd,
2021, the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and
Fisheries –MAAIF through Dr. Rose Anna Adenum, the Commissioner Animal Health imposed the quarantine on Awach and Paicho Sub –Counties following the confirmed outbreak
of FMD, a severe and highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant
economic impact.
It affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed
ruminants. It spreads through contact with an infected animal or its products.
Jesse Johnson James
Freelancer