Africa-Press – Uganda. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is grappling with arrears amounting to Shs25 billion owed to several international organisations, a situation Permanent Secretary David Kasura-Kyomukama says is affecting Uganda’s participation and ability to benefit from global platforms.
Among the organisations to which Uganda owes subscriptions is the World Organisation for Animal Health, with arrears of Shs12.8 billion.
The country also owes Shs6.3 billion to the Desert Locust Control Organisation for Eastern Africa and Shs6.17 billion to the International Red Locust Control Organisation.
Additional arrears include Shs96.4 million owed to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Shs87 million to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government), ministry officials led by Maj Gen Kyomukama were questioned about the relevance of maintaining membership in multiple international bodies while accumulating heavy subscription arrears.
Members of Parliament proposed that the ministry considers reducing its memberships to ease the financial burden.
Kasura-Kyomukama defended Uganda’s continued participation, saying engagement in such organisations is critical for supporting the agriculture and animal sectors, including access to veterinary drugs, disease surveillance support and international trade opportunities.
He added that he is in continuous engagement with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to secure funds to settle the outstanding arrears.
The committee also grilled MAAIF officials over non-compliance and implementation gaps in efforts to eradicate foot and mouth disease (FMD), after more than 40 million vaccine doses reportedly expired due to lack of adequate storage facilities.
According to the committee report, the ministry lacked sufficient storage capacity for the 50.6 million doses of FMD vaccines procured.
At the time procurement was initiated on August 19, 2024, the available vaccine storage facility at National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre in Entebbe could only accommodate approximately 10 million doses.
The report further noted that the ministry had an approved budget of Shs427.6 billion for the management of FMD interventions, out of which Shs425 billion was warranted, resulting in a shortfall of Shs2.6 billion and a performance rate of 99.4 percent.
Lawmakers expressed concern over the implications of expired vaccines and inadequate storage infrastructure on disease control efforts, warning that such lapses could undermine livestock health and agricultural productivity.
