African Swine Fever disease slows down in Luwero

Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The outbreak of African Swine Fever has slowed down in Luwero district, giving a sigh of relief to pig farmers and consumers.

On July 18th, 2025, Dr. Anna Rose Ademun, the Commissioner in charge of Animal Health, imposed quarantine restrictions on Luwero town following the outbreak of African Swine Fever.

“Consequently, movement of pigs, pig products and by-products within, into, out or through the aforementioned area is prohibited/ banned with immediate effect until further notice from the undersigned. Pig slaughter places, including butcheries, are closed with immediate effect until further notice,” Dr. Ademun stated in a letter addressed to the Luwero Chief Administrative Officer

By the time the quarantine was enforced, at least 200 pigs had already died in Luwero Town Council.

Since the quarantine was imposed, several pig farmers and consumers have been struck hard by the restrictions.

Dr. Andrew Makubuya Kidda, the District Production Officer, stated that since the restrictions were enforced, the spread of the disease has slowed down, and there is hope that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries may soon reopen the markets.

“In the past two weeks, our veterinary office has not registered pig deaths thanks to the enforcement of the quarantine restrictions.  On Monday, we picked samples from the pigs and sent them to the National Animal Diseases Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre to confirm whether the disease is still active or not,” Kidda said

He, however, asked the farmers to remain vigilant until the Ministry of Agriculture lifts the quarantine restrictions.

He also asked the farmers to desist from feeding pigs on waste food mixed with water from hotels, saying these may expose them to African Swine Fever and prolong the elimination of the disease.

In the fight against the disease, the district veterinary office also encouraged farmers to ban farm visits, promote good hygiene, avoid taking pigs to mating outside their farms and use disinfectants to eliminate the disease.

Paul Kiganda, a farmer at Kikubajinja village in Luwero town welcomed the news that the disease had slowed down, but said there was still a lack of information on how to fight the disease because veterinary officers hadn’t held community sensitisation meetings.

Kiganda lost 10 pigs in three days following the outbreak, which cost him 3.4 million shillings in losses.

Currently, Kiganda has one surviving pig and is planning to restock after lifting the quarantine.

Paul Kataaha, a trader, says that he is choking on debts following the quarantine restrictions and is praying for the elimination of the disease so that they can be lifted.

“Each week, I could buy and sell 20 pigs to the local markets, but since the restrictions were imposed, I am stuck at home, yet I need to service loans as well as look after the family,” Kataaha said

The Luwero District Police Commander, Brighton Ahimbisamukama, said all pork joints in Luwero town remain closed and there has been adherence to quarantine restrictions.

“We ask the farmers and consumers to remain vigilant so that the disease is eliminated and quarantine is lifted,” Ahimbisamukama said.

According to the Livestock Census 2021, pig farming is the largest livestock farming business in Luwero, spread across 22,840 households (which is 40% of all households that keep animals).

The livestock census revealed that there are 96,278 pigs kept in Luwero district.

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