By Rogers Wanambwa 

KIU, Main Campus – Over one hundred pigs in Otuke district, Northern Uganda, have succumbed within three weeks to a suspected African swine fever outbreak. The cases have been reported in Olilim and Ogwete sub-counties. The disease that starts manifesting by general body weakness is accompanied by nasal dryness, bleeding and a drop in temperature, which forces the pigs to lay in the sun. The animal dies typically within days. 

Geoffrey Onyango, a resident of Abwonatango in Ogwete parish Ogwete sub-county has lost seven pigs. Onyango is worried that he may lose his remaining pigs, yet they are his only source of income.

George Ogwete, a resident of Adwari sub-county, is worried that the fast-spreading disease might get to his area and kill all his animals.

“I have seen animals dying in some areas from the same kind of disease, but it has not yet reached our area. I am not sure my pigs will survive because the disease is spreading so fast, and even if you treat them, they die a few days after.”

Patrick Akoko, a resident of Agwete Cell, Olilim town council, has lost three pigs even after vaccinating them. He wants the government to provide information on medication and better vaccines.

Benson Omara, the Ogwete sub-county veterinary officer, says that his office has received some complaints from many sub-counties. He says that he wrote a report to the district even though he can not confirm swine fever.

All in all, quarantine procedures will be taken seriously with immediate effect for the situation to be at hand.