anda is ready to introduce and enforce Standard Methods and Procedures (SMPs) for primary diseases, including FMD, PPR, RVF and brucellosis across the country. This has been disclosed at a national workshop, convened in Kampala, from 20th to 22nd July 2015.
Revising the status of livestock diseases and delivery of veterinary services in the districts and zones, workshop participants requested the Government of Uganda and AU-IBAR/SMP-AH project to strengthen coordination between Uganda and the neighboring countries in diseases surveillance and quarantine and devise a mechanism to build public awareness in the area of veterinary regulation. They also flagged up the need for strengthening vaccination programmes in border areas, especially along the Uganda-Tanzania border. Finally, participants requested the Ministry to speed up the adoption and implementation of SMPs in the country through supplying of veterinary vaccines, establishing quarantine facilities, increasing provision of logistical supports to districts and ensuring a two way information sharing among key stakeholders in the sector.
In his welcoming address to over 55 workshop participants, Dr Nicholas Kauta, Director of Animal Resources (DAR) for Uganda lamented the fact that Africa’s participation in the global livestock trade has remained less than 2% of the global share and commended stakeholders’ determination to rollout SMP in the nation to improve this gloomy situation. Besides, Dr Kauta has highlighted the significant contribution the SMP-AH project has made so far to enhance Uganda’s livestock trade.
On the part of AU-IBAR, Dr Joseph Magona, representing the Director of AU-IBAR, Prof. Ahmed Elsawalhy, pointed out that the adoption and implementation of SMPs will generate a far-reaching benefits to the national economy of Uganda and the poor livestock keepers whose livelihoods is heavily dependent on livestock.
The workshop was attended by over 55 experts from public and private sector.