By Tolit Ivan
The Government, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has finally lifted the livestock quarantine imposed on Amuru District.
A six months quarantine was imposed on the district on July 18, 2024, following an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Lakang sub county.
Over 19,000 livestock including cattle, goats and sheep were subsequently vaccinated in a bid to contain the disease.
But six months later, 10 new cases of Foot and Mouth Disease were registered in Lakang sub county, just as officials were expecting the quarantine to be lifted.
This prompted the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) to extend by a month a livestock quarantine in parts of Amuru district.
However, following mass sensitization of livestock farmers and vaccination exercise of over 30,000 livestock including cows, goats and sheep against the disease, the gov’t in a letter dated 22 April, 2025 has now lifted the quarantine.
The letter to Amuru district was signed by Dr. Rose Anna Ademun, the Commissioner of Animal Health in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Geoffrey Orsbon Oceng, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner, confirmed the development, but warned migrant pastoralists not to use the opportunity to migrate to Amuru adding that the presidential executive order No. 3 still stands.
Foot and mouth is a viral disease that mostly attacks the mouth and legs of cattle and shows up mainly where the hooves join the skin.
