The foot and mouth disease that has for long been a menace to farmers could soon be history as Uganda gets closer to producing its own vaccine.The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries through the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) says it is in advanced stages of establishing a local vaccine manufacturing infrastructure at Nakyesasa in Wakiso District to produce vaccines for ticks, foot and mouth disease.  

According to the ministry, Uganda is expected to start manufacturing the vaccines in about two years.

This came to light on Wednesday as the technical team from the ministry led by Ronald Ssegawa Gyagenda, the Undersecretary and Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (Central) to respond to the Auditor General’s queries for Financial Year 2020/2021.

 “We are having plans to have both anti-tick and foot and mouth disease vaccines manufactured in Uganda through NARO and the facility at Nakyesasa has been set up. We are going to produce a strain vaccine which can be multiplied, but we have fast-tracked the one for ticks which has become so serious and it is now on field trial before we roll out the complete manufacturing,” Fred Mayanja, Commissioner for Agricultural Planning and Development said.