To contain the avian influenza or bird flu outbreak, which is ravaging white-winged black terns, domestic ducks and chicken in Masaka, Kalangala and Lutembe bay in the central Wakiso district, the ministry of agriculture claims it needs over Shs12 billion.

Dr Noeline Nantima, the assistant commissioner for Animal Disease Control, said the funds are required to conduct disaster response operations, which include public sensitisation, burying of dead birds and enforcing curfews.

Dr Nantima explained that they estimate their operations would cost Shs 2bn per month over the next six months, covering the three already identified areas. She added that government will in future be required to compensate farmers whose animals will be killed to stop the virus spread.

Nantima, however, noted that the ministry has well-built technical and material capacity to fight the outbreak. She said the outbreak had been anticipated since it hit neighbouring Sudan in 2005.

She challenged government to hurriedly avail funds to get the ministry teams moving to reduce the magnitude of the loss the outbreak may cause to the economy.

Meanwhile, Dr Lawrence Mayega, the Masaka district veterinary officer, said they have sent their local surveillance teams to conduct preliminary preventive interventions like overseeing quarantines as they wait for funds from government.

Johnson Kanyesigye, the Masaka district chief administrative officer, said they are considering diverting some of the funds in the district budget to deal with the emergency.

On Monday, government announced a national task force to handle the outbreak. It added that the disease has been confirmed in seven wild migratory birds, five domestic ducks and one chicken. Other samples from suspect cases are being picked for testing.

While Wakiso district has reported no cases in domestic birds, but “Uganda Wildlife Authority estimates about 950 white-winged black tern migratory birds to have died in the district so far.”

Only Kalangala and Masaka districts have reported deaths in both wild and domestic birds so far.