Uganda, Egypt advance veterinary vaccine plant to strengthen FMD control

UGANDA – Uganda and Egypt are finalising plans to establish a veterinary vaccine manufacturing facility to produce foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines locally, supporting Uganda’s efforts to strengthen livestock health, reduce dependence on imported vaccines, and improve disease preparedness.

Ugandan Minister of Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze announced progress on the project during a working visit to Cairo on July 26, where both countries discussed the next steps toward constructing the facility.

“One of the most advanced cooperation projects that we hope to sign and finalise during this visit is the establishment of a timeline for launching construction of the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine manufacturing facility in Uganda,” Tumwebaze said.

The project builds on a partnership launched in 2024 between Uganda and Egypt to develop local capacity for FMD vaccine production. 

Under the collaboration, Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) will work alongside Egyptian scientists to establish vaccine manufacturing capabilities while transferring technical expertise to Ugandan researchers.

The planned facility will produce a quadrivalent FMD vaccine designed to protect livestock against the four virus serotypes circulating in Uganda. 

Egypt will provide expertise in producing vaccines against serotypes O, A, and SAT 2, while Uganda will develop the vaccine component targeting the SAT 1 strain, thereby completing protection against all locally circulating variants.

The technology transfer programme will also train Ugandan scientists in specialised vaccine production, strengthening the country’s long-term veterinary research and manufacturing capacity.

The investment comes as Uganda intensifies efforts to control one of its most economically damaging livestock diseases. 

Foot-and-mouth disease affects cattle, goats, sheep and pigs, reducing productivity through weight loss, lower milk yields, infertility and trade restrictions.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 40 Ugandan districts reported FMD outbreaks in 2023, with additional cases continuing through 2024 and 2025. 

Studies cited by local media indicate calf mortality can reach nearly 38%, while household livestock income may decline by more than 60% during outbreaks.

Uganda plans to launch its first nationwide FMD mass vaccination campaign between July and August 2026, targeting approximately 46.5 million susceptible animals through two annual vaccination rounds.

Local vaccine production to improve supply security

Uganda currently relies largely on imported veterinary vaccines, with Egypt serving as one of its principal suppliers. 

Establishing domestic production is expected to improve vaccine availability, reduce supply disruptions and enable faster responses to disease outbreaks.

For the feed and livestock industries, stronger FMD control could improve herd productivity and feed efficiency by reducing disease-related production losses. 

Healthier animals convert feed more efficiently, supporting better returns for livestock producers while creating more stable demand for commercial feed.

The project also complements Uganda’s broader livestock development strategy, which aims to strengthen veterinary services, improve disease surveillance and enhance the competitiveness of the country’s livestock sector through greater biosecurity and improved animal health infrastructure.

If completed, the vaccine facility will position Uganda among a growing number of African countries investing in local veterinary biologics manufacturing to strengthen regional disease control and reduce dependence on imported animal health products.

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