Owners of pork joints and butcheries in Fort Portal have defied a recent quarantine imposed on the movement of pigs, and sale and consumption of pork.
Last week, the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries imposed quarantine on the movement of pigs to and within the district and consumption of pork, following the outbreak of the African swine fever.
The quarantine was imposed following the death of more than 200 pigs in Lyamabwa and Kahondo in Kisomoro Sub County and in some parts of Kibiito town council.
The district veterinary department vowed to close all pork joints and butcheries, and threatened to arrest anyone defying the ban.
However, its business as usual for pork joints and butcheries, even as more pigs continue to die.
In some of the pork joints, pork is still being fried and served to clients. Uganda Radio Network reporter also saw several trucks loaded with pigs along the Fort Portal- Kampala and Fort Portal- Kasese roads.
Vincent Baguma, a pork joint operator in Kisenyi, a suburb in Fort Portal, says that he isn’t aware of any ban stopping the sale of pork. Baguma also says that he is also ignorant of the disease.
He says that even if he was aware of the ban, he wouldn't stop selling pork, because it's his only source of income.
John Abigaba, the Kabarole District Veterinary Officer, says that he is aware pork joint operators are defying the ban, but the department lacks resources. He says that once they have been given the funds, they will start the enforcing the ban.
//Cue in: “We are mobilizing resources…
Cue out:…take to courts of law.”//
According to Abigaba, more than 200 pigs died in Ruteete Sub County over the weekend. He says that the blood samples have been collected and will be tested. He says that the pigs had diarrhorea, were vomiting and showing signs of high fever.
African swine fever, can easily be detected as it causes vomiting, laboured breathing and coughing in affected pigs.
