SEMBABULE – Lwemiyaga cattle farmers have threatened to storm Lwemiyaga cattle market to sell their cows in total violation of a ban that was imposed by the Government last year (2019) on grounds of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease within the region.
Led by Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County MP), the group while addressing journalists at Parliament accused General Elly Tumwine, Minister for Security of ordering for the closure of this market on allegation of foot and mouth disease yet the said disease is 36kilometers away from mitima village where the FMD has been detected.
Ssekikubo also revealed that whereas Lwemiyaga cattle market is being closed off from operation, other neighboring cattle markets including; Burunga, Rwemikoma in Kazo, Kyaahi and Maddu in Gomba, Kashagama and Kyemamba in Lyantonde and Butawaka in Mubende are left open.
The group which also comprised of Hussien Zzirimenya and Rwengo councilor Molly Rwabashaija threatened to go to the closed market with their animals for sale and face whoever would come to stop them selling their animals.
It should be recalled that on 20th August 2019, the Commissioner Animal Health Dr. Anna Ademun ordered the closure of Kyemamba Lugusulu and Rumegyere market due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Mitima Subcounty, Sembabule District.
The cattle farmers intending to petition the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga on grounds that the Commissioner’s orders were emphatic on closure of 3 markets and there have never been any orders for closure or quarantine of Lwemiyaga market.
Sssekikubo alleged that General Tumwine has a personal interest in the blockade of Lwemiyaga market since he deals in cattle sales so as the buyers go to markets where he sells them in form of a black market.
The petitioners have called upon Parliament to intervene in the matter and carries out an investigation into the Police blockading of Lwemiyaga market on the orders of Gen. Tumwine.
He called on the government to take interest in the livestock and dairy sector to have measures streaming this sector.
