By Weswa Ronnie
NAMISINDWA
Farmers in Namisindwa district are helpless following the outbreak of cattle Lumpy skin disease.
Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. It causes fever, nodules on the skin and can also lead to death, especially in animals that have not previously been exposed to the virus.
David Mityelo, the Namisindwa district acting production officer told our reporter during a phone interview today, 19th September 2023 that the most hit sub counties are Bumbo town council , Bukokho, Lwakhakha town council, Tsekululu, and Mukoto Sub County.
He says that they have received 50 cases since last month and has urged farmers to be on a watch out and report these cases to sub county veterinary officers.
Mityelo says that the district is currently not having resources to encounter this disease urging farmers to vaccinate their animals to avoid its spread.
Julie Namara, the Namisindwa Deputy Resident District Commissioner has urged farmers to go to their sub county veterinary officers who should recommend to them the appropriate vaccines.
Samuel Nandokho and Stephen Wandabwa both affected farmers from Lwakhakha town council have urged the district and the ministry of agriculture and animal husbandry to procure free vaccines for farmers because they are currently broke.
They say it is better for government to contain the disease within Namisindwa instead of allowing it to spread to other neighboring districts which can become hard for the government to fight.
