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Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has lifted African swine fever (ASF) quarantine restrictions in Kalangala District, restoring the movement and trade of pigs and pig products from August 20, 2026. The restrictions, which had been in place for four months, were removed after containment measures, community awareness campaigns and strategic ring vaccination helped bring the outbreak under control.
The outbreak initially affected Mugoye and Bujumba sub-counties and Kalangala Town Council, where the movement of pigs and pig products was prohibited. It was linked to an emergency restocking programme under the National Oil Palm Programme, during which 266 of the 372 pigs distributed to residents on March 13, 2026 died shortly after delivery. The disease later spread to neighbouring farms, resulting in the deaths of an additional 148 pigs.
The quarantine caused significant financial losses for farmers, traders and households that depended on pig farming, particularly those who had turned to livestock rearing after intensified action against illegal fishing. Although pig trade has now resumed, strict biosecurity measures remain in place, including movement permits, vehicle disinfection at entry points, veterinary inspections before slaughter and improved hygiene standards at butcheries.
