Farmers in Gulu District Count Losses as Suspected African Swine Fever Kills Over 80 Pigs

Gulu, Uganda – Farmers in Gulu District are facing severe losses after a suspected outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) killed over 80 pigs in just one week. The outbreak has sent shockwaves through the local farming community, with many fearing the devastating impact on their livelihoods.

According to local authorities, the affected pigs started exhibiting symptoms of the deadly viral disease, which has no cure or vaccine. The illness spreads rapidly among pigs, causing high mortality rates and financial ruin for farmers who depend on pig farming for their income.

In an effort to confirm the cause of the outbreak, veterinary officials have sent samples from a 100-kilogram pig to the Gulu Veterinary Laboratory for testing. The results will help determine the next course of action, including potential containment measures to prevent further spread.

Several pig farmers in the district have reported mass deaths among their livestock, with some losing entire herds within days. Farmers like John Okello, who had invested heavily in pig farming, say they are now left in financial despair.

"I had 15 pigs, and within a week, I lost all of them. This is my only source of income, and now I don’t know what to do," Okello lamented.

Another farmer, Grace Achan, noted that the outbreak has discouraged many pig farmers from continuing with their businesses.

 "We are afraid of buying new pigs because we don’t know if the disease is still spreading," she said.

Local veterinary officers have urged farmers to exercise caution and implement biosecurity measures to reduce the spread of the disease. Dr. Patrick Ouma, a veterinary officer in Gulu, advised farmers to isolate sick pigs, avoid sharing farm tools, and properly disinfect their pigsties.

"ASF is highly contagious, and without proper control measures, it can wipe out entire pig populations in the district," Dr. Ouma warned.

The district authorities have also called for government intervention, urging the Ministry of Agriculture to provide support for affected farmers.

As farmers await lab results to confirm the outbreak, many are hoping for assistance to recover from their losses. If confirmed, this would be another devastating blow to Uganda’s pig farming industry, which has suffered repeated ASF outbreaks in recent years.

For now, farmers in Gulu remain on high alert, hoping that authorities will act swiftly to contain the spread and mitigate further losses.