Traders in Kampala have been left in the dark about the government’s ban on the sale of meat, following reports of foot and mouth disease in the area.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries issued a directive to KCCA to enforce quarantine guidelines in response to cases of foot and mouth disease in Rubaga division. The ban includes the movement and sale of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and their products in Kampala.
Despite the ban being put in place on March 1st, business in butcheries around Kampala has continued as normal, with traders claiming they have not been informed of any cases of foot and mouth disease in the area.
Captain Aubrey Ssazi, a leader at Kalerwe abattoir, expressed his surprise at the news of the outbreak, questioning the responsibility for controlling foot and mouth disease in an area without farms or cows that come without being examined.
Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, the director of public health in the Ministry of Health, commended the Ministry of Agriculture for the directive to prevent the spread of the disease, urging the public to avoid consuming meat from affected areas.
Consumers are now considering alternative options as the ban impacts the availability and cost of meat in Kampala. The ban has sparked debate among meat consumers, with some questioning what they will eat a midst the restrictions.
Foot and mouth disease has been reported in nearly 40 districts across the country, leading to a nationwide ban on cattle business to prevent the further spread of the disease.
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