By Sylvia
Farmers in the Presidential Rwengaju Model Sub-County in Kabarole District are in distress after a mysterious disease has wiped out their goats, leaving them with significant losses.
In just two months, over 500 goats from various farms have died in the villages of Nsahu, Bwabya, Bukoni A and B, Kidubuli, and Kicuna, all within Rwengaju Sub-County, Kabarole District.
According to residents, the goats initially show symptoms such as flu, coughing, watery eyes, and bloody diarrhea, and then die within three days.
Resident Voices on Goat Deaths
Bony Karamagi, a local goat farmer, believes the disease entered the sub-county when an NGO from Kabarole District distributed goats from Soroti District to youth groups in Rwengaju as part of a community support initiative. Due to free-range grazing, the disease quickly spread across the entire sub-county, affecting both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, resulting in the deaths of goats and sheep.
Kamuhanda Abel, another affected farmer, revealed in an exclusive interview with Jubilee radio, that some farmers have lost between 40 and 80 goats, amounting to millions of shillings. He added that some farmers had invested PDM funds into goat rearing before the disease struck, and now they are calling on the government to intervene and safeguard their livelihoods.
The district production department reportedly sent samples to Kampala for testing, but two months later, the results have not been returned, and farmers continue to lose more animals.
Farmers Demand Solutions
In a recent meeting held in Rwengaju Sub-County, frustrated farmers demanded that their leaders find a lasting solution to the crisis or risk losing their support in future elections.
Asaba Frank, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kabarole, confirmed that an investigation has been launched to determine how the infected goats entered the sub-county before being checked.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the district’s production department has not educated the community on the dangers of consuming affected animals. Some farmers have been selling the infected goats to local butchers at prices ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 shillings.
Farmers are calling for urgent action to address the disease, provide compensation for their losses, and prevent further spread of the illness.
