The government has imposed a quarantine in Kalangala district following the death of more than 300 pigs, as authorities move to contain an outbreak of African Swine Fever. The ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries confirmed the outbreak in an official circular addressed to the district’s chief administrative officer. Commissioner for Animal Health, Dr Anna Rose Ademun, directed the immediate enforcement of quarantine restrictions after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the disease. Ademun said samples collected from carcasses and sick pigs tested positive for African Swine Fever, confirming infections in several parts of the district. “Following the outbreak of African Swine Fever in Mugoye sub-county, Bujumba sub-county, and surrounding areas in Kalangala district, quarantine restrictions are hereby imposed on the affected sub-counties, the town council, and a 20-kilometre radius,” she stated. Under the directive, the sale and movement of pigs and pig products in the affected areas have been banned. All pig markets and loading sites have also been ordered closed with immediate effect. Local government officials, police, and other enforcement agencies have been instructed to support the district veterinary office in sensitising communities and enforcing the restrictions. The quarantine follows mounting concern among farmers, who report losing nearly 350 pigs in recent weeks. According to local accounts, about 340 pigs, including 276 piglets distributed under a government livelihood programme, have died within a span of three weeks, dealing a significant economic blow to households. The piglets were supplied under the National Oil Palm Program (NOPP), which targets households unable to establish oil palm plantations due to limited land. Kalangala district veterinary officer, Cedric Mulindwa, confirmed that all samples tested at the ministry laboratory returned positive for African Swine Fever. He said veterinary teams have since been deployed to contain the outbreak and cautioned residents against breaching quarantine measures. Mulindwa warned that authorities could invoke provisions of the Animal Diseases Control Act against violators. However, some residents have raised concerns about the source of the outbreak. Godfrey Ssekanyike, a resident of Mwena Ward in Kalangala town council, alleged that the disease may have been introduced through the distribution of infected piglets under the government programme. He noted that the district had gone for a long period without an outbreak of African Swine Fever and warned that the quarantine would have far-reaching implications for farmers’ livelihoods.The post Quarantine imposed on Kalangala after swine fever kills over 300 pigs appeared first on The Observer.