Parliament has passed the Animal Diseases Amendment Bill 2005, which specify more stringent penalties on the unapproved movement of livestock in the country. The bill aims at controlling internal cross-border spread of livestock diseases.
The State Minister for Animal Husbandry, Mary Mugyenyi, explained that the bill will increase the fines and punishments for the illegal movement of animals.
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The Parliamentary Agriculture Committee however observed that the amendment only addresses a small section of animal laws that need to be updated. The vice chairperson of the committee, Atwooki Kasirivu, said government needs to revise other laws like the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which prescribes a fine of only 1,000 shillings for someone found guilty of mistreating an animal.
