Uganda launches nationwide FMD vaccination drive targeting 45.5M livestock

UGANDA – Uganda will roll out its first nationwide foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination campaign between July and August 2026, targeting about 45.5 million cattle, goats, sheep and pigs in a major step to strengthen animal health and reduce livestock production losses linked to the disease.

The campaign, announced by State Minister for Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama, marks a shift in Uganda’s livestock health strategy from reactive outbreak control to a structured, preventive vaccination system.  

They said the programme is part of a wider effort to improve disease control, protect livestock productivity and support regional trade in animals and animal products.

Under the new model, the government will provide vaccines, cold-chain systems, logistics and veterinary oversight, while farmers will contribute through subsidised vaccination fees. 

Cattle and pigs will be vaccinated at 8,000 Ugandan shillings (about $2.13) per dose, while goats and sheep will cost 4,000 shillings ($1.06). 

Farmers will also be required to register in a national livestock database to improve traceability and vaccination coverage.

“This campaign will target about 45.5 million susceptible animals in Uganda, including approximately 16.5 million cattle, 17.4 million goats, 4.5 million sheep and about eight million pigs,” Rwamirama said.

FMD remains one of the most costly livestock diseases in East Africa, not because it is usually fatal, but because it reduces milk production, slows growth, lowers fertility and triggers strict trade restrictions that affect domestic and export markets for meat, milk and live animals.

Uganda has faced repeated outbreaks in recent years, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reporting more than 40 affected districts in 2023, followed by continued cases in 2024 and 2025. 

The recurring outbreaks have highlighted gaps in vaccination coverage and cross-border disease control.

Regional push to strengthen livestock disease control

The vaccination programme aligns with a broader East African strategy to control FMD between 2026 and 2035. 

The regional framework, agreed in Nairobi in December 2025, seeks to harmonise surveillance, vaccination programmes, diagnostics, animal movement controls and cross-border cooperation to reduce the economic burden of the disease across the region.

The challenge is not limited to East Africa. 

Southern Africa has also seen renewed FMD activity in 2026, with outbreaks reported in countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Improved disease control is expected to reduce production losses, stabilise livestock markets, and strengthen the reliability of supply chains for meat and dairy processors, feed manufacturers, and exporters that depend on consistent animal health standards.

Combining mass vaccination with farmer participation and regional coordination will position Uganda’s livestock health as a central pillar of its agricultural development and trade strategy.

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