Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1541 EAT on Monday 13 April 2026

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.

The Commissioner for Animal Health, Dr Anna Rose Ademun, ordered the immediate enforcement of quarantine measures after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the disease.

Dr Ademun said samples collected from carcasses and sick pigs tested positive for African swine fever, confirming infections across 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 said.

Under the directive, the sale and movement of pigs and pig products in the affected areas have been banned with immediate effect. All pig markets and loading sites have also been ordered closed as authorities move to contain the spread of the disease.

Local government officials, police, and other enforcement agencies have been instructed to support the district veterinary office in sensitising communities and enforcing the quarantine measures.

The restrictions follow growing 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 setback to affected households.

The piglets were supplied under the National Oil Palm Programme (NOPP), which supports households that are unable to establish oil palm plantations due to limited land.

Cedric Mulindwa confirmed that all samples tested at the Ministry of Agriculture laboratory returned positive for African swine fever.

He said veterinary teams have since been deployed to help contain the outbreak and cautioned residents against violating quarantine measures. Cedric Mulindwa warned that authorities could invoke provisions of the Animal Diseases Control Act against offenders.

However, some residents have raised concerns about the possible source of the outbreak. Godfrey Ssekanyike 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 could have far-reaching consequences for farmers’ livelihoods.

-Observer

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