Robert Canpara, Entomologist, Pakwach District

By: Alfred Jawok

Pakwach District Local Government has launched a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination campaign aimed at controlling the spread of the disease among livestock and protecting farmers from potential economic losses.

The campaign was launched on November 9, 2026, at Jalaranga Village in Ragem Sub-county, Pakwach District, with authorities calling on livestock farmers to embrace the exercise and comply with government interventions to contain the disease.

Robert Canpara, an entomologist in Pakwach District, urged all livestock owners to participate in the vaccination exercise, saying collective cooperation is essential in preventing the further spread of the disease among animals.

Canpara explained that the vaccination exercise will not be free, with cattle and pigs attracting a fee of 8,000 shillings per dose, while goats will be vaccinated at 4,000 shillings per dose.

Opar Anyayo J. Opar, the Pakwach Sub-county district councillor and Secretary for Production, welcomed the campaign, describing it as timely in helping farmers prevent losses associated with Foot and Mouth Disease. He noted that the government-supported vaccination programme offers farmers a more affordable option compared to vaccines sold in private veterinary shops.

Meanwhile, Twaibu Achile, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Pakwach, said the district security team would work closely with other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the programme and promote compliance among livestock owners.

Pakwach District Chairperson, Ofoy Shaban Kinobe, expressed concern that some livestock owners were considering boycotting the vaccination exercise. He appealed to farmers to cooperate with authorities and participate in the programme, warning that failure to embrace the intervention could undermine efforts to control the disease.

Pakwach District has received more than 140,000 doses of vaccines for distribution across its 10 local government units. Authorities say sustained farmer sensitisation and participation will be crucial in ensuring the success of the vaccination campaign.