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Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 300 goats have been killed by the fresh outbreak of goat plague in Kasenyi-Lyato village, Buseruka sub county, Hoima district.
Goat plague is a viral disease related to the rinderpest of sheep as well as goats. It is characterized by fever, cough, very bad-smelling breath, diarrhoea and discharge from the eyes and nose, which can form a crust, making breathing difficult and forcing eyes shut. According to scientists, most sheep and goats that show signs of the disease will die.
In Hoima, the goats started dying a month ago leaving many goat farmers stranded. The farmers in the area are concerned over the massive death of animals on which they had invested a lot of money, some of which were acquired from the banks as loans.
Lucy Chanuroma, the chairperson Kasenyi-Lyato women’s goat rearing group says they have so far lost 69 goats to the disease and now want the government to intervene and have the situation controlled by vaccinating the goats.
Dorothy Kasiri, the veterinary officer Buseruka sub-county says they have embarked on massive vaccination of the goats in the area to prevent the disease from further spreading to other sub-counties.
She has however warned against the transportation of goats and sheep from Kasenyi-Lyato to other areas within the district to avoid spreading the disease. Buseruka sub-county chairperson Ali Tinkamanyire rallied farmers in the area to massively embrace the vaccination exercise.
The disease first broke out at Mbegu landing site, Buseruka sub-county where it killed close to 1,000 goats in April 2021. It was however contained after the district veterinary department conducted massive vaccination of goats in the area.
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