ANTHRAX FIGHT: Kasese Officials Ban Uncertified Meat Consumption

Following the outbreak of anthrax, a deadly disease which attacks animals and people, the  Kasese District Disaster Taskforce headed by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) has banned the selling and importing of uncertified meat commonly known as sanga.

The ban was agreed on January 04 during the taskforce meeting on suspected outbreak of anthrax in the district.

Kasese district has become a dumping site for sanga meat which some locals enjoy at lower price ranging from Shs3000-4000 per kilo. Sanga meat includes offals and carcass of animals including pigs, cows, goats, hens and other parts, which authorities suspect to be either dead or sick.

Health experts argue that sanga meat sold in Kasese district is being imported from neighboring district where anthrax has been reported. They also attribute cases of cancer in the district to too much consumption of sanga meat by locals.

Authorities have since identified Bwera, Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town Council, Isango, Kinyamaseke Town Council, Kisinga, Kisinga Town Council in Bukonzo West and East counties as major consumers and dealers of the said meat.

Speaking during the taskforce meeting held at One Stop Center in Kasese Town on January 04, the acting District Health Officer (DHO) Stephen Bagonza tasked security personnel to put restrictions on smuggling sanga meat into the district in order to mitigate chances of importing the virus into district. Bagonza said there was no confirmed case of anthrax in Kasese. He called for vigilance.

Bagonza added that he saw no reason why security should fail to implement the restrictions of selling sanga in the district since the officers have managed to impound and curb the selling of premature fish and poaching in national parks.

The District Surveillance Focal Person (DSFP) Arafat Bwambale explained that anthrax is transmitted to human beings through contact with dead or sick affected animals.

Being at the porous borders of various national parks, including Rwenzori and Queen Elizabeth, and being among the major importers of animals from various parts of Uganda, Kasese has high chances of importing diseases.

According to Bwambale, the incubation of anthrax is 14 days in human being, and 3-7 in animals.

The District Veterinary Officer (DVO), Dr Yusuf Kibaya, said the disease mostly affects cows and sheep. He noted that high fever and bleeding through natural openings are some of the symptoms.

He asked locals to avoid direct contacts with dead animals, burying of dead animals, washing hands and vaccinating as major protective measures against the disease in both human being and animals.

The Kasese Resident District Commissioner Lt Joe Walusimbi has since tasked technical personnel, politicians and security to work as a team in order to prevent the disease from entering into the district.

He also threatened to deal with politicians who compromises with Saga dealers for selfishness motives of favors during elections.

However, former Kasese District LCV chairperson Thembo Sibendere Bigogo, who in his tenure, initiated the move to fight selling and eating of sanga in the district was defeated during 2021 general election. Experts say his defeat was to some extent due to his efforts to fight sanga traders and consumers who said the former district boss was undermining them.

An anthrax outbreak was confirmed on November 29, 2023 in Kabira, Kasasa and Lwankoni sub-counties in Kyotera district. According to the district surveillance team, Kyotera anthrax possibly started in June 2023 on a farm in Kkyamayembe Sub-County following the consumption of meat of a dead cow.