The Minister of State for Animal Industry, Hon. Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore, has met farmers and local leaders at Kazo district Headquarters in the Council Hall, where he discussed measures to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), improve livestock production and strengthen the agricultural sector.

During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO), Denis Kamwehanga, who represented the CAO, welcomed the minister to the district and said the local government was doing its best to implement government programmes.

Kamwehanga noted that the district's extension staff were working hard to extend agricultural services to communities, although he called for government support through increased recruitment and improved remuneration of extension workers to enhance service delivery.

The District Veterinary Officer, Dr. Alfred Nabimanya, briefed the minister on the interventions undertaken to contain FMD and minimise its spread across the district.

He said the district had temporarily closed all livestock markets through the FMD task force, conducted ring vaccination around infected farms and covered all cells surrounding the affected farms.

Other interventions include farmer sensitisation on FMD prevention and control, emergency registration of farmers for vaccination, enhanced disease surveillance in neighbouring villages and the establishment of village task forces.

Nabimanya added that biosecurity measures, including footbaths and disinfection points, had been established at farm entrances to prevent further transmission of the disease.

The District Production Officer, Tumwesigye Zephline, said following the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) policy shift towards a cost-recovery approach to FMD vaccination, he had organised the veterinary team to fast-track the vaccination exercise.

Zephline, said that since July 2026, a total of 4,524 farmers had registered for the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination exercise, of whom 1,735 had paid for the service. He added that the vaccination exercise had so far covered 59,520 cattle, 4,312 sheep, 397 pigs and 18,540 goats across the district.

Kazo district LC5 Chairperson, Rev. Samuel Mugisha Katugunda, welcomed the minister and called upon farmers and other stakeholders to work closely with the government in addressing challenges affecting the agricultural sector.

Katugunda said the district was making efforts to control FMD and noted that Kazo had continued to coordinate activities with farmers and cooperative societies in the fight against the disease.

The Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mushabe Gershom, thanked the minister for his contribution to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

He acknowledged the challenges facing the agricultural sector, particularly disease outbreaks, but said the relevant authorities were working to address them.

Gershom also raised concerns about insecurity in the district, saying security agencies were doing their best to maintain law and order.

In his remarks, Hon. Bright Rwamirama urged farmers to focus on improving the quality of their livestock by rearing high-yielding dairy breeds to increase milk production and household incomes.

He also encouraged crop farmers to use appropriate fertilisers to improve soil productivity and increase agricultural output.

On the FMD outbreak, the minister emphasised the importance of fully vaccinating livestock and urged farmers to cooperate with veterinary officers to protect their animals against the disease.

Rwamirama further called on farmers to maintain quality standards throughout the agricultural value chain, saying milk should be transported in proper milk cans, while harvested crops should be properly handled and stored to preserve their quality.

He encouraged farmers with the capacity to embrace modern farming technologies and practices, noting that improved farming methods would help increase production and productivity.

The minister also pledged government support to Kazo District in the fight against FMD, saying he would work towards providing colours, medicines and other necessary supplies to support disease control efforts.

He urged farmers to remain committed to livestock vaccination and adopt recommended practices to protect their animals, sustain milk production and improve their livelihoods.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of the dairy industry to Kazo's economy.

According to the district, Kazo has 38 registered dairy cooperatives that organise milk producers and facilitate milk marketing. The district also has 106 milk collection centres strategically located to improve milk handling and marketing.

Kazo produces approximately 419,573 litres of milk daily, making it one of Uganda's leading milk-producing districts.

The writer is Tinyefuza Naboth, Communications Officer, Kazo district local government.