Frank Tumwebaze, Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. Photo Credit: Maaifclf
By Zablon Oyugi, September 08, 2026 – Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has clarified that livestock farmers are not required to pay for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination services, but only contribute towards the approved cost of the vaccine dose administered to their animals.
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze said concerns over farmers being charged for FMD vaccination stem from a misunderstanding of the government’s cost-recovery arrangement. Under the FMD Cost-Recovery Scheme, farmers contribute UGX 8,000 per cow or pig and UGX 4,000 per goat or sheep per vaccination cycle.
According to Tumwebaze, the contributions are deposited into a revolving account used to replenish vaccine stocks and maintain availability for the mandatory six-month vaccination schedule.
“The farmers do not pay for FMD vaccination services or the broader costs of running the national FMD control programme,” Tumwebaze said, explaining that government continues to finance the wider programme.
Government funding covers vaccine procurement, cold-chain infrastructure, storage, transportation, distribution, disease surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, farmer registration, digital certification, monitoring and public sensitisation.
The clarification comes as Uganda seeks to maintain sustained vaccination coverage among an estimated 44.5 million susceptible animals nationwide. Authorities say regular vaccination is critical to building herd immunity, reducing disease outbreaks, preventing disruptions to livestock markets and protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
All animals vaccinated under the programme will receive a digital FMD Vaccination Certificate, which will be required for livestock movement and access to markets for meat and milk.
The certificate, however, does not replace the statutory veterinary movement permit or disease-control restrictions imposed in areas affected by outbreaks.
MAAIF has also warned farmers to make payments only through authorised banking and digital channels. Veterinary officers are prohibited from collecting cash from farmers, and officials found demanding cash payments face disciplinary or legal action.
Meanwhile, government is pursuing local FMD vaccine production through partnerships with Egypt and HUVET Bio-Science Park in Mpigi. O
nce operational and meeting required quality and biosafety standards, local production is expected to improve vaccine security, reduce dependence on imports, shorten supply timelines and gradually lower costs for farmers.
The ministry describes the cost-recovery arrangement as a shared-responsibility model in which farmers meet the vaccine cost while government funds the infrastructure, personnel and services required to deliver vaccination and protect Uganda’s livestock sector and markets.
