The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), has announced a compulsory nationwide livestock vaccination campaign targeting Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), in a major push to control and eventually eliminate the highly contagious animal disease across the country.
The exercise is scheduled to run in two major phases, from July to August 2026, and again from January to February 2027. Thereafter, vaccinations will be conducted every six months as part of a sustained strategy aimed at maintaining immunity levels and ensuring long-term disease control in Uganda’s livestock sector.
Under the program, farmers will contribute UGX 8,000 per dose for cattle and pigs, while goats and sheep will be vaccinated at UGX 4,000 per dose. The government will cover all other associated costs, including vaccine administration and transportation of veterinary personnel to different parts of the country.
According to MAAIF, the policy is designed to establish a reliable and sustainable vaccination system that guarantees continuous vaccine availability while strengthening disease prevention efforts. Authorities say this will enhance productivity in the livestock sector and improve Uganda’s competitiveness in regional and international markets.
The state minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Bright Rwamirama, urged all stakeholders to fully comply with the program, emphasizing that vaccination will become a key requirement for livestock trade.
“Only vaccinated animals will be issued movement permits, granted market access, and allowed to participate in livestock trade activities in Uganda,” he said.
He further stressed that Foot-and-Mouth Disease remains one of the most serious threats to the growth of the livestock industry, calling for collective action from farmers, traders, transporters, local leaders, and veterinary officers.
“I call upon all livestock farmers, traders, transporters, district leaders, veterinary personnel, and the general public to support this implementation so that together we can eliminate Foot-and-Mouth Disease from the country,” he added.
The government has also strengthened vaccine storage and distribution systems to ensure timely delivery and proper handling of vaccines across all regions. Officials say this will help maintain vaccine potency and improve the efficiency of the rollout.
The nationwide campaign is expected to cover approximately 44.5 million animals, including 15.5 million cattle, 17.4 million goats, 4.4 million sheep, and 7.1 million pigs. The target is to achieve and sustain at least 80 percent vaccination coverage of all susceptible livestock during each cycle.
To support the initiative, government has procured 53.6 million doses of high-potency quadrivalent vaccines designed to protect animals against the major FMD virus strains circulating in the region.
Officials are optimistic that the campaign will significantly reduce disease outbreaks, improve livestock productivity, and strengthen both domestic and international trade in Uganda’s livestock sector.
