Ntungamo battles to contain foot and mouth disease as markets close and tensions rise.

Ntungamo District, a district in Western Uganda is facing mounting pressure as a fast moving outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease continues to disrupt livestock trade and strain relations between farmers and veterinary officials.

The disease, which was first detected in Nyakyera Sub county after animals were brought in from unknown sources, has lingered for nearly two months.

In a swift response, the district halted cattle markets and installed quarantine checkpoints to limit further spread. According to Dr Yake Basulira, the district veterinary officer, emergency measures were introduced as soon as the outbreak was confirmed.

“We had a challenge of Foot and Mouth Disease starting with Nyakyera area due to inflow of animals from unknown sources. We came in as a task team and set up FMD task teams,” he explained.

A District Task Team later met stakeholders in January, 2026, in Nyakyera and Rubare to agree on stricter controls, including market closures and a vaccination drive.

Foot and Mouth Disease affects animals with split hooves including cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. It spreads quickly through direct contact, infected equipment and the movement of livestock.

Despite the government supplying what officials describe as enough vaccines for the entire district herd, progress has been uneven. “The vaccination campaign programs have continued, however with setbacks. These setbacks are attached to farmers not bringing all their animals for vaccination yet requesting to know where the disease is,” Dr Basulira said.

“The government has given us massive amounts of vaccine which can contain the animals of Ntungamo. If all farmers would bring all their animals in time, we would ably push out this FMD out of Ntungamo, and operations of markets would be normal.”

Tensions are rising in Itojo where some large scale farmers have resisted the exercise. “In Itojo some people have over 200 animals but have failed to vaccinate yet they are threatening the district veterinary officer. There must be penalties,” warned Denis Savimbi.

Officials insist enforcement will follow. “The farmer who doesn't want to bring his animals for vaccination is handled by those penalties. Dear farmers, let’s comply so that you know how to manage it before you are put in prison for the sake of your animals,” Dr Basulira cautioned.

Beyond animal health, the economic impact is clear. Bernard Ahabwe noted, “FMD has killed our cows and affected the district in terms of resource mobilization. The markets are not functioning, we are not collecting local revenue.”

Chief Administrative Officer Fildeus Kizza added, “Much as some farmers could be selling from their homes and they don’t bring their animals to markets, definitely we cannot collect money like market dues. There must be some sort of decline in terms of revenue collection. We might lose revenue but we are protecting income for the farmer.”

For Ntungamo, the task now is to restore order, protect livelihoods and bring the outbreak under control before losses deepen further.

Vaccine arrival strengthens South Africa’s fight against foot and mouth disease.

South Africa has stepped up its response to Foot and mouth disease with the arrival of one million high potency vaccines at OR Tambo International Airport.

The shipment was received under the supervision of John Steenhuisen, Agriculture Minister marking a significant boost to the national vaccination drive already under way in affected regions.

The vaccines were supplied by Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina and form part of a broader supply programme. Further consignments are expected in the coming weeks from BVI in Botswana and Dollvet in Turkey. By the end of March, more than five million doses from these three international suppliers are set to arrive in the country.

At home, the Agricultural Research Council has committed to producing 20 000 vaccines per week, with plans to increase output to 200 000 per week in 2027. The expanded supply will allow authorities to move beyond targeted outbreak response and work towards wider suppression of the virus in high risk areas.

Steenhuisen said, “Vaccination has already begun in affected areas, but supply has limited the speed and coverage. With this arrival, we can now accelerate protection across priority provinces and stabilise the livestock sector.”

Outbreaks have been reported in every province, prompting quarantine measures, movement restrictions and ongoing surveillance. A risk based vaccination strategy will focus first on outbreak centres in KwaZulu Natal and parts of Gauteng, Free State and North West, before extending to other high risk and border regions.

The initial one million doses will be shared across all provinces, with KwaZulu Natal and Free State receiving the largest allocations. However, the minister warned that vaccines alone will not end the crisis.

“Quarantine rules, movement permits and biosecurity measures exist to protect every farmer in the country. Those who deliberately move animals illegally, conceal infections, or ignore restrictions threaten the recovery of the entire sector. Where there is wilful non compliance, we will work with law enforcement authorities and the full might of the law will be applied,” Steenhuisen added.

He will visit Mooi River in KwaZulu Natal on 27 February to vaccinate dairy cattle alongside veterinarians and farmers. “The dairy industry has been among the hardest hit with significant production losses, disrupted markets and immense strain on farming families. That visit marks the practical beginning of recovery at farm level. Each vaccinated herd means stability returning to a business, wages returning to workers and milk returning to shelves.”

“We are moving step by step from crisis management to control,” Minister Steenhuisen concluded. “Vaccines are arriving, the system is scaling up, and compliance will be enforced. Working together, we will stabilise the sector and rebuild confidence in South Africa’s animal health system.”

Getting Feed Transitions Right.

Feed transitions are often underestimated on the farm, yet few decisions carry as much weight when it comes to how well a flock performs at the end of the cycle.

From the moment chicks arrive to the point they reach processing weight, broilers move through several distinct feed phases, each with its own nutritional profile and physical form. Managing these shifts well is what separates a high-performing flock from one that struggles to hit its targets.

As birds grow, their diet moves through starter, grower and finisher specifications, and with each change comes an adjustment in feed texture too, progressing from mash through to crumb and eventually pellet. These are not minor tweaks. Each phase is designed to match the bird's changing biological needs, and any disruption to that process can set the flock back in ways that are hard to undo.

The changeover from starter to grower feed tends to be the trickiest. It brings both a nutritional shift and a change in feed form at the same time. Offering the first batch of grower feed as a crumb or mini pellet rather than a full-sized pellet makes the adjustment far easier for the birds. When this step is skipped, intake tends to drop, growth slows and uniformity across the flock takes a hit.

The simplest and most effective way to handle any transition is to blend the outgoing feed with the incoming one, layering the new on top of the old so birds ease into the change naturally rather than encountering it all at once.

Done properly, feed transition management keeps intake steady, limits wasteful flicking behaviour, protects carcass quality and supports consistent flock health throughout the cycle. These are not just welfare considerations. They translate directly into better returns for the producer.

Planning feed transitions carefully is not optional. It is fundamental to running a productive, profitable broiler operation.

Kobus Wiese, owner of Wiesenhof en Dr Theo de Jager, board chairman of Saai.(Image credit: Saai)

As foot and mouth disease continues to spread across South Africa, many livestock farmers are facing severe financial strain and uncertainty. 

With frustration mounting over delays and administrative setbacks, the private sector has begun stepping forward to offer practical support.

Wiesenhof Coffee Roastery has partnered with the Southern African Agri Initiative to strengthen Saai’s disaster relief fund. The fund is aimed at assisting family farmers who have been heavily affected by the outbreak and the challenges surrounding its management.

While official processes remain slow and markets unsettled, businesses are choosing to act. Four years ago, Wiesenhof pledged a portion of its profits from every cup of coffee sold, along with selected items from Wiesenhof and Dulce restaurants, to promote farm safety and modern agricultural technology. That commitment has now been expanded to address the urgent needs created by the current crisis. The focus includes improving biosecurity measures, supporting vaccine logistics and providing emergency financial relief to struggling producers.

“When you enjoy a cup of coffee with us, you stand with our farmers. Together we are building a stronger agricultural sector and protecting food security for the future,” says Kobus Wiese, owner of Wiesenhof.

Dr Theo de Jager, Chairman of Saai, highlighted the importance of family farms within the broader food system. “Family farms are the backbone of food security. When they fall, communities fall with them,” he says. “This partnership proves that the private sector is willing to take responsibility when systems fail.”

The fund is designed to offer real assistance to farmers battling to safeguard their herds, secure movement permits, retain access to markets and manage mounting cash flow pressures.

Kobus adds, “Agriculture is the heart of our country. With every cup of coffee, we choose to make that heart beat stronger.”

On Friday, Wiesenhof formally handed over a cheque to Saai at its coffee shop in Franschhoek. The gesture symbolised a shared commitment to supporting South Africa’s family farms during one of their most challenging periods.