As Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Veterinary Day 2025, President Yoweri Museveni reassured farmers and citizens that the government is fully committed to fighting livestock diseases, especially Tick Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
Speaking through Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba at celebrations held in Kiboga District on April 25, President Museveni praised local efforts to produce veterinary drugs and other important farming supplies. He said the NRM government is supporting Ugandan investors who share the same vision of building veterinary drug factories to help farmers.
However, the President warned farmers against treating animals themselves without professional help. He said some farmers are making their own drug mixtures to treat ticks, which ends up causing more harm to the animals. He added that security agencies are tracking down and arresting those who smuggle fake veterinary products into the country.
Museveni also emphasized that Uganda is working hard to create its own anti-tick vaccine. Local scientists, led by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and Makerere University, are making good progress, and very soon, the vaccine will be available for farmers across the country. This will help solve the tick infestation problem, just like progress has been made in fighting Foot and Mouth Disease.
“Very soon, livestock diseases will be history. We shall then focus on production issues like animal nutrition, training farmers on better feeding methods, and providing equipment for making enough animal feed,” Museveni said.
The President also reminded the nation of the improvements made in veterinary services since he came to power. Before the NRM government, the veterinary sector was controlled by the government and mainly served large-scale farmers. But after the government introduced reforms, veterinary services were privatized, creating better efficiency and access for all farmers.
Today, the government is also promoting animal breeds that can survive harsh climates and resist diseases. According to Museveni, this will push Uganda closer to achieving its goal of agro-industrialization, which will create jobs for young people and increase farmers’ incomes.
During the week-long events under the theme “Animal Health Takes a Team”, a lot was achieved. More than 1,000 dogs were vaccinated, over 300 dogs were castrated or had their uterus removed, and 5,000 cattle along with 1,500 goats were vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease.
Exhibitors showcased innovations such as new animal drugs, vaccines, and food products that meet high standards. Minister Nabakooba praised the veterinarians for their hard work, saying she learned a lot during her visit to the exhibition stalls. She encouraged vets to continue organizing free vaccination drives and other services to benefit farmers, especially in rural communities.
The Minister added that when farmers’ animals are healthy, the farmers are also happier and more productive. She highlighted how recent visits under the Parish Development Model (PDM) showed a growing need for more veterinary services, especially for new farmers in poultry, piggery, and cattle rearing.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Dr. Anna Rose Ademun announced changes in the government’s policies. She said farmers will now be required to pay a small fee for vaccinating their animals against Foot and Mouth Disease.
The government is also shifting away from spraying animals against ticks. Instead, animals will be injected with the new anti-tick vaccine once it is ready. The vaccine will cost about $2 (roughly Shs75,000), and animals will need two shots a year.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) president, Dr. Andrew Akashaba, called on the government to recruit more veterinary officers and assistants. He said that each sub-county should have both an officer and an assistant to improve disease surveillance and response.
Veterinarians also asked for old laws governing their work to be updated, saying many of these laws were made before Uganda’s independence.
Dr. Alice Banga, founder of Eram Uganda Limited, speaking on behalf of the exhibitors, praised fellow veterinary professionals for their efforts. She pointed out that families involved in animal rearing are financially better off than those without livestock.
She pledged her continued support to work with the government to improve animal health across the country.
