Kampala: Livestock farmers in Uganda are set to benefit financially from a new factory dedicated to manufacturing foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccines locally. This development promises to lower the costs that farmers currently incur to vaccinate their animals.

According to African Press Organization, the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, announced that the factory is a collaborative effort between the governments of Uganda and Egypt. The initiative aims to substantially reduce the prices of FMD vaccines, which are currently priced at Shs8,000 for cows and Shs4,000 for goats, once local production begins.

The minister, while addressing concerns raised by Hon. Richard Ongorok (NRM, Usuk County) during a parliamentary session, did not specify a timeline for when the factory would be operational. Ongorok had raised issues about the cost recovery scheme associated with the FMD vaccination program, highlighting a lack of public education on the payment policy.

Tumwebaze clarified that farmers are guided to pay for the vaccines online, and reported incidents of veterinary officers demanding cash payments have been addressed with the relevant authorities. He emphasized the need for increased public awareness in various local languages to ensure farmers understand the new process.

Additionally, Tumwebaze informed the parliament that the government would no longer provide free maize and coffee seedlings to farmers. Instead, farmers are now expected to seek funding through the Parish Development Model (PDM) to purchase these seedlings, a response to a query by Hon. Patrick Musinguzi (NRM, Kashari North County).

The shift in policy from government procurement and distribution of seedlings to funding under PDM marks a significant change. Tumwebaze noted that while the ministry lacks funds for seedlings this season, discussions with the President and Cabinet would guide future actions.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urged Members of Parliament to ensure the effectiveness of government-funded programs like Emyooga and the Grow Project. She stressed the importance of auditing the distribution of funds within communities and promoting the understanding of these programs as revolving funds.

Nabbanja also called for vigilance among legislators in Lango, Teso, and Acholi sub-regions to ensure that the Shs5 million allocated per household under the restocking program reaches its intended recipients.