Despite the various health interventions in the country to control Tsetse flies, about 70% of national herds in Uganda is at risk of contracting animal trypanosomiasis also known as Nagana. Apart from the threat to livestock, over 11 million people remain under the risk of contracting Sleeping Sickness.

A statement from the government warns that Uganda is one of the 37 countries in Sub- Saharan Africa that is infested with Tsetse flies.

The diseases are both spread by Tsetse flies both in animals and humans and currently over 500 cases of sleeping sickness are reported annually countrywide though Nagana prevalence rates in the country range between 5% and 40% in most parts of the country.

According to the statement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, some of the principle signs of sleeping sickness are fever, headache, loss of appetite, joint pains, skin itching, excessive sleepiness during, mental confusion impotence in men and infertility in women.

The statement says the signs of Nagana in livestock include weakness, fever, reduced milk production, loss of weight, poor skin condition, anemia and loss of weight.

By Zacharia Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media