Agriculture Ministry Probes Cow Blindness in Western Uganda

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is investigating circumstances under which cows in Western Uganda went blind.

There have been reports that dairy farmers in Isingiro district are using unlicensed acaricides and concoctions that are causing blindness and other complications to the livestock.

It is reported that more than 300 cows in the district have gone blind.

The Ministry Permanent Secretary Pius Wakabi Kasajja told the press yesterday that a team of specialists has been dispatched to go and investigate the matter.

“For the cows which got blind, we got the information in the papers the way you did and we have already sent our specialists to go and investigate. We have asked the district veterinary officer to make an immediate report because we don’t know. We cannot tell what the cause is, we don’t know how many animals have had that problem.”

“But our teams are going to give a report and we shall be able to come here and brief the public,” said Kasajja.

Last month, the National Drug Authority (NDA) and police arrested seven people for allegedly falsifying and selling unregistered Tick Burn Spray to dairy farmers in Western Uganda.