The festive season in Kampala, traditionally marked by bustling activity in the city's abattoirs, is overshadowed this year by a severe shortage of cattle.

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in key cattle-producing regions has drastically reduced supplies, leaving dealers, butchers, and consumers grappling with escalating prices and limited availability.

Kampala City Abattoir Chairperson John Bosco Kiddu confirmed that the FMD outbreak has paralyzed cattle movement from major supply areas, leading to unprecedented operational challenges.

"Farmers are reluctant to bring their cattle to market, fearing further spread of the disease and compliance with movement restrictions," he noted.

At Kalerwe abattoir, cattle dealer Musa Ssebunya described the dire situation: "We're operating at less than half our capacity. It's the worst we've seen in years."

Butchers like Mariam Nakitto at Kalerwe Market report a 30% spike in beef prices, with customers increasingly frustrated by the high costs.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has acknowledged the crisis.

Veterinary officer Agnes Kirabo explained that while movement restrictions are essential to contain FMD, they have inadvertently disrupted cattle supply chains.

Ongoing vaccination campaigns and surveillance efforts aim to control the outbreak, but recovery may take time.

This crisis highlights the vulnerability of Uganda's livestock sector to disease outbreaks and their broader economic implications.

For now, the festive season's usual cheer is overshadowed by uncertainty, with stakeholders hoping that swift intervention will restore normalcy in the coming weeks.