Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja has directed Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze to investigate the reported delay in lifting of quarantine in Ntugamo District, even after the district is Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free.
Nabbanja said she has received reports that some officials are benefiting from the quarantine.
“I want him [Tumwebaze] to pick up this matter and go to Ntugamo so you can establish whether they are not playing with our people’s income,” Nabbanja said.
The matter was raised by Hon. Naome Kabasharira, the Rushenyi County Member of Parliament during plenary sitting chaired by Speaker, Anita Among on Thursday, 03 October 2024.
Kabasharira said that whereas the FMD has been contained in the district, cattle markets are still closed, nine months after government imposed quarantine.
“Government has given us vaccines and they vaccinated all the animals. There is no foot and mouth disease. May I know why people cannot sell their animals and yet they have been vaccinated?” she asked.
Tumwebaze said that the ministry has written to District Veterinary Officers and Chief Administrative Officers of the affected districts and the quarantine has been lifted from the districts that confirmed that the disease has dissolved.
“It is up to them [Ntugamo District] to confirm that they are ready for lifting of the quarantine, they have not done it,” he said.
Relatedly, Tumwebaze revealed that Uganda Coffee Development Agency (UCDA) has started registration of coffee farmers in the country, in accordance with European Union (EU) regulations.
“UCDA was allocated Shs13 billion for traceability and they have started, I commissioned it yesterday,” he said.
Tumwebaze added, “They will need more money and I have communicated to Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.”
Tumwebaze was responding to a matter of national importance raised by Hon. Abed Bwanika (NUP, Kimaanya-Kabonero Division).
Bwanika was seeking an update on the status of registration of coffee farmers, saying that the process has delayed.
“The Minister of Agriculture presented regulations of EU in terms of registering all coffee farmers. UCDA needs money to do this work, they have been waiting for the release as provided for in this year’s budget,” Bwanika said.
