Health experts in Kasese district have raised concerns about residents sharing their homes with domestic animals. This practice, they warn, increases the risk of contracting zoonotic diseases, illnesses that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
The caution from health experts follows reports of households in Kasese opting to keep their livestock indoors at night due to a surge in thefts targeting animal shelters across the district. This worrying trend was discussed during a one-day meeting organized by the Trans-cultural Physiological Organisation on March 22, 2024, held at Virina Gardens in Kasese municipality.
Julius Baluku, the Kasese district production coordinator, revealed that livestock such as goats, chickens, sheep, and pigs are being kept inside residential houses. He emphasized that the rampant thefts not only pose challenges to government poverty-eradication initiatives but also undermine programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM), which aims to uplift the socio-economic status of Ugandan citizens, particularly those in remote areas.
Samson Muhindo Mugisha, the Animal husbandry officer for Mpondwe-Lhubiriha town council, highlighted the health risks associated with co-habiting with livestock. He pointed out that animals carry harmful germs, bacteria, and parasites that can be transmitted to humans, potentially leading to severe illnesses such as Rift Valley fever, rabies, anthrax, and brucellosis.
Fredrick Masereka, a medical laboratory technologist from Bwera General Hospital, cautioned against the use of human drugs to treat animals. Doing so, he explained, can lead to drug resistance and render meat unfit for human consumption.
Recognizing the importance of equipping community members with knowledge about animal husbandry as an income-generating activity, Samuel Mumbere from the office of the Chief Administrative Officer urged leaders and stakeholders to prioritize educational initiatives in this regard.
Monday Gerevazio Bwambale, the Kasese district secretary for social services, commended the organizers for their proactive engagement on this critical issue, emphasizing the need for timely interventions to address the challenges arising from livestock co-habitation in Kasese district.
