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Three major cattle markets in Ntoroko district have closed down following the death of several cattle as a result of the dry spell that has affected parts of the country.
The closed cattle markets are Majumbi in Rwebisengo Sub County, Makondo and Haibale in Kanara Sub County.
The indigenous Batuku in Ntoroko, are predominately cattle keepers and the cattle is a source of income to the households.
Many people from Bundibugyo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) often frequent the markets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to purchase cattle from the cattle keepers.
In some parts of the district, all the pasture has dried and valley dams which were constructed in cattle rich areas are empty.
The Majumbi cattle market which is ever busy on Mondays was today deserted. There were only five livestock which looked bonny and emaciated.
Faith Basemera, a resident of Majumbi trading centre says that she lost eight heads of cattle in a space of two days. She says that the cattle did not have what to eat since the pasture has dried.
Basemera says that she had planned to sell the cattle and pay school fees for her children, medical bills and also purchase food items for the family.
She says that she can't sell the remaining cattle she has because they are emaciated.
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Sam Makondere, a cattle keeper says that last week, he lost five herds of cattle. He says that before the dry spell started, he sold four herds of cattle and got 1.5 million shillings, which he used to construct his three bed roomed house.
Makondere says that he had planned to sell the cattle and complete his house.
The dry spell has also affected the supply of milk and increased the price of a litre.
Collin Ahumuza, a trader in Karugutu trading centre says that the supply of milk to his dairy has reduced from 40 litres everyday to 15.
In dairies around Karugutu and Rwebisengo trading centre, a litre of milk has increased from 400 shillings to 1000 shillings.
When contacted, Timothy Kyamanywa, the LC5 chairperson Ntoroko district and secretary of the district disaster management committee says that since the drought is a natural calamity and being experienced in other parts of the country, there is nothing the district can do to help the farmers.
He says that the farmers should be patient until May when the drought will end.
