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Livestock farmers urged to embrace vaccination against Foot-and-Mouth disease

7 July 2026, 12:59 pm

Veterinary doctors showing the signs and symptoms of Foot and mouth disease (file photo).

By Emmanuel Mwaka and Brian Oloya.

Livestock farmers are being urged to strengthen disease control measures as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) continues to threaten cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs, severely disrupting livestock markets.

Speaking to our reporter on Tuesday 7 July 2026, Dr. Edward Omaido, the Principal Veterinary Officer for Gulu City, explained that FMD is a virulent disease targeting the hooves and mouths of livestock. To combat the threat, the government has rolled out a mandatory vaccination campaign for cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats.

Dr. Omaido highlighted that the vaccination now requires a small fee a strategy introduced because many farmers were not taking advantage of previous free campaigns. He noted that the cost is intended to encourage responsibility and prompt farmers to take action. The vaccination exercise will be conducted twice a year: the first phase running from July to August, and the second from January to February.

Dr. Omaido Edward the principle veterinary officer Gulu city on the foot and mouth disease.

Payments cannot be made in cash to officers in the field. Instead, farmers must pay directly into designated commercial banks, such as Pearl Bank or Housing Finance Bank. The payment requires a unique Payment Reference Number (PRN) generated by the attending veterinary officer.

Dr Omaido Edward the principle veterinary officer Gulu city while appearing on 89.5 Speak Fm on Tuesday 7 July 2026.

Gulu City Animal Husbandry Officer, Griffin Opiyo, urged farmers to immediately register their livestock for the exercise. To register, a farmer must present their National ID and specify the exact number of animals to be vaccinated.

Opiyo also outlined the official, subsidized fee structure for the exercise, Cattle and Pigs: UGX 8,000 per head Goats and Sheep: UGX 4,000 per head

Opiyo Griffin Gulu city animal Husbandry officer on the prices of the vaccination.
Opiyo Griffin the Gulu city Animal Husbandry officer while appearing on Speak Fm on Tuesday 7 July 2026.

Experts warn that effective vaccination, strict biosecurity measures, and close cooperation between farmers and veterinary authorities remain the only ways to safeguard Uganda’s livestock sector and protect rural livelihoods from catastrophic outbreaks.