Members of Parliament have requested that the government expedite the establishment of a vaccine manufacturing plant for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the country.

On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, briefed parliament about the short-term strategies by the government to contain the current FMD outbreak in the country.

Minister Tumwebaze informed parliament that he has planned for the immediate procurement and distribution of 10 million vaccine doses to vaccinate animals in high-risk districts.

“Among the mid-term strategies is making foot and mouth vaccination compulsory by a legal instrument issued by the Minister for Agriculture, as well as procuring 88 million vaccine doses for bi-annual mass vaccination of all the susceptible domestic animal population,” Minister Tumwebaze said.

Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, questioned why the government has not been able to establish the production plant for the vaccines.

“Parliament previously passed a resolution to set up a foot-and-mouth vaccine production plant and tasked the Minister for Agriculture to give a progress report on the matter and specify the fast tracking of production,” LoP Ssenyonyi said.

Ssenyonyi insisted that the production plant for vaccines be established in the country to cut down on the high costs incurred during procurement.

MP Robina Rwakoojo questioned why vaccines for animals are always not budgeted for.

“In the agriculture budget, we have always appropriated for pesticides and things to do with fisheries, but animals are left out. Why do you want to sell the vaccines to us in the short run? First give them to us for free, then we can start paying,” MP Rwakoojo said.

Minister Tumwebaze said the government is willing to fast-track foot and mouth disease vaccine research and development in Uganda that can substantially reduce the cost of vaccination and make it affordable for farmers.

He said the research process is already ongoing, adding that officials from the Botswana Vaccine Institute will visit Uganda with the intention of establishing a government-to-government arrangement, which will cut off prolonged procurement delays.

The urgency to address FMD was underscored by recent cases reported in several districts, including Budaka, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Butaleja, Fort Portal City, Gomba, and Isingiro, among others.