UGANDA— The Botswana Vaccine Institute has announced that it will collaborate with Ugandan experts and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries to find a cure for foot and mouth disease, which has been a long-standing problem in the country.
This was revealed during a meeting between President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Botswanan scientists in Entebbe’s State House.
The engagement followed a bilateral meeting between President Museveni and Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi on January 22, 2024, at Speke Resort in Munyonyo, on the margins of the G77+ China Third South Summit.
Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Hon. Bright Rwamirama, and Ambassador Paul Amoru, Minister of State for Animal Industry, all attended the meeting.
Others were Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Maj. Gen. David Kyomukama Kasura, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, among others.
Scientists at Botswana Vaccine Institute have subsequently gathered samples from cattle infected with foot and mouth disease in the livestock corridor and other parts of the country.
President Museveni welcomed the Botswana scientists and pledged to work together to develop a vaccine for the disease in Uganda.
In this follow-up meeting with H.E. Mokgweetsi, President Museveni stated that he is still open to allowing businesses deal with feed in Uganda because the country has a lot of resources.
He went on to say that a year ago, Uganda produced five million metric tons but only consumed one million metric tons internally, so any companies that desired animal feeds for local consumption, as well as export back to Botswana, were welcomed.
Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, informed the President that scientists from the Botswana Vaccine Institute had agreed to collaborate with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to develop a vaccine to combat foot and mouth disease in Uganda.
He went on to say that they had discussions and agreed that they could work with NARO to produce their own vaccine.
The scientists are presently servicing Southern Africa, and Hon. Tumwebaze believes that they can also help Uganda develop these vaccinations for East Africa.
Hon. Tumwebaze further stated that they persuaded the Botswana delegation to buy Ugandan milk, citing its good quality.
Mr. Andrew Madeswi, CEO of the Botswana Vaccine Institute, stated that the mission of collecting samples had been completed; the next phase will be evaluating the samples, and the report’s final conclusions will be released by March 29, 2024.
Mr. Mokganedi Mokopasetso, Technical Director of the Botswana Vaccine Institute, stated that while collecting samples, they visited three districts in the country’s west and three districts in its east.
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