**Breaking: Goat Plague Outbreak Devastates Kikuube District, Hundreds of Goats Killed**
A confirmed outbreak of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), commonly known as goat plague, has wiped out hundreds of goats in Kikuube district, located in western Uganda.
The highly contagious viral disease has caused widespread panic among farmers, with symptoms including fever, nasal and eye discharge, mouth lesions, labored breathing, coughing, foul-smelling diarrhoea, and rapid death. PPR spreads easily through direct contact, airborne droplets, and contaminated food or water. While goats and sheep are the primary victims, camels, pigs, and even cattle can also be affected.
Over the past week, farmers in Kikuube reported losing more than 400 goats, with Buhuka, Butoole, and Kyangwali parishes in Kyangwali sub-county being the hardest-hit areas. The deaths began last month, forcing farmers to bury carcasses as concerns over the safety of consuming infected meat grew.
Dr. Barnabas Ntume, the district veterinary officer, confirmed that blood samples from the sick animals tested positive for PPR at the National Animal Disease Diagnosis and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC). To curb the spread of the disease, the district has launched an emergency mass vaccination campaign. However, Dr. Ntume also warned farmers against moving goats and sheep from the affected areas to other sub-counties or neighboring districts, citing a high risk of cross-border transmission.
Vincent Okumu, a farmer at Buhuka landing site, shared that he has already lost 40 goats and fears more deaths in the coming days. Meanwhile, Kyangwali sub-county LC III chairperson Emmanuel Bisemeza called on the district’s veterinary department to expedite the vaccination efforts before the outbreak causes even more damage.
This outbreak is reminiscent of previous incidents in the region. In July 2025, a similar disease killed over 300 goats in Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district. Earlier outbreaks were reported in March 2021, with more than 200 goats lost at Mbegu landing site, and in November 2021, when over 300 goats died before mass vaccinations brought the situation under control.
