KIU, Main Campus – On Thursday, 16th April, Maj (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama, the Minister of State for Animal Industry, at the media centre in Kampala, issued guidelines to butchers and abattoirs in an effort to fight Coronavirus.

In the guidelines, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries  banned the carrying of meat in polythene bags locally known as kaveera. Instead, the Ministry directed  people who come to butchers to carry buckets where they will take the meat. 

Among the guidelines also, all persons, loading, offloading and slaughtering must wear appropriate personal protective equipment that is; overalls, white gumboots. 

"This is because if the person is not protected, he can spread the disease to the consumers," the Minister stated.

He also went on to sensitize the meat handlers to  wash their hands before and after handling the animals.

"We want to protect meat consumers from contracting diseases mainly Coronavirus that is said to be transmittable from humans to animals and vice versa," added the Minister Maj (Rtd) Rwamirama.

The minister also elaborated that animals for slaughter such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chicken, ducks and turkeys must be acquired directly from the farm and animal owners must inform local authorities before selling their animals.

More to that,  movement of animals to be slaughtered should be permitted by the veterinary officer to avoid animal theft. This goes to people who steal animals and take them for slaughter.

He also emphasized the washing of hands with soap or appropriate sanitizer at entry or exit of the farm and also adequately disinfecting of  protective wear and vehicles before visiting another farm.

Apart from testing the animals before slaughter, abattoirs must be certified by the health authorities and must wear Personal Protective Equipment at all times and keep the hygiene of the hands and equipment used in the slaughter process.

Furthermore, buyers must also keep social distance as guided by the ministry of Health with not more than five people per operation. All butcheries must mark with white paint areas for customers to stand while waiting to be served to implement and enforce the four-meter distance between customers.

All these guidelines, are to ensure that there is no further spread of the pandemic since the country seems to be recording great success of late.