GOVERNMENT TO CASTRATE DOGS AND CATS AS UGANDA COMMEMORATES WORLD RABIES DAY IN LUWEERO DISTRICT

The Ministry of Agriculture has called for stronger collaboration in the elimination of Rabies  as Uganda joins the global community in commemorating World Rabies Day, observed annually on 28 September in honour of Louis Pasteur, whose pioneering work contributed to the development of the first rabies vaccine.

Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama the Minister of State for Animal Industry  says this commemoration provides an important opportunity to raise public awareness about rabies, renew our commitment to its prevention and control, and mobilise communities and institutions towards the global goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.

“The theme for World Rabies Day 2026, “Stronger Together”, reminds us that rabies cannot be eliminated by one sector acting alone. Effective control requires coordinated action by the animal health, human health and environmental sectors, supported by Local Governments, communities, schools, development partners and responsible animal owners,” he stated.

The Commissioner for Animal Health  Dr Anna Rose Ademun Okurut  told reporters that rabies is a fatal viral disease affecting both animals and humans. In Uganda, dogs remain the principal source of human exposure. Children are particularly vulnerable because of their frequent interaction with dogs and their greater likelihood of sustaining bites without immediately appreciating the danger.

“Following exposure, disease may develop after an incubation period that commonly lasts weeks to months. Once clinical signs appear, rabies is almost invariably fatal. Prevention is therefore critical. Vaccination of dogs and  cats, prompt and thorough washing of bite wounds, rapid medical assessment and timely access to appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis are central to preventing human deaths,” she stressed.

Globally, rabies continues to cause tens of thousands of human deaths each year, with the greatest burden occurring in Africa and Asia. Yet rabies is preventable. This makes every avoidable death from rabies a strong reminder of the need for sustained vaccination, surveillance, public awareness and timely treatment following exposure.

Okurut noted that Rabies remains endemic in Uganda and has been reported from many parts of the country. Available Ministry records indicate that between 2021 and 2025, 36 samples were confirmed positive for rabies at the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC). Reporting from communities remains incomplete, meaning that the true animal disease burden is likely to be higher than the number of officially recorded cases.

According to her between 2022 and 2025, Ministry of Health records cited in this brief indicate 67,393 suspected human bite cases and 190 human deaths, while 356 suspected animal deaths were recorded. These figures underline the continuing public-health importance of rabies and the need to improve reporting, investigation and coordinated surveillance.

“The economic burden is also substantial. Government incurs major expenditure on human post-exposure prophylaxis and animal vaccination, while affected households bear costs associated with treatment, transport, loss of animals, loss of productivity and, tragically, preventable loss of life. Preventing infection in animals, particularly through sustained vaccination of dogs, is therefore both a public-health and an economic priority,”Okurut noted.

Rabies has been reported across the country, with the source brief identifying affected districts in Eastern, Central, Western and Northern Uganda. The distribution of cases demonstrates that rabies control cannot be treated as an isolated district activity. Movement of animals, roaming dog populations and uneven vaccination coverage require coordinated surveillance and response across administrative boundaries.

Government interventions for rabies controlMinister Rwamirama said government will continue to pursue a One Health approach to rabies prevention and control suing  Key interventions include,vaccination of dogs and cats, particularly in high-risk and hotspot areas, to interrupt transmission from animals to people and livestock, and  Provision of human anti-rabies vaccines through the health system for people exposed to suspected rabid animals

The ministry will further support  regional and district veterinary laboratories and  carry out community awareness and behaviour-change communication on responsible pet ownership, annual vaccination, bite prevention, reporting of suspected cases and appropriate action following exposure.

This year’s national World Rabies Day activities are being hosted by Luwero District planned activities include:free mass vaccination of dogs and cats,dissemination of rabies information through print, digital and social media,spraying and castration of dogs and cats as part of responsible population management,

The global rabies-elimination effort aims to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. A central strategy is achieving sufficiently high and sustained vaccination coverage in dog populations to interrupt transmission. I therefore urge dog and cat owners in Luwero and throughout Uganda to take advantage of vaccination opportunities organised by veterinary authorities.

“I upon every Ugandan to recognise that eliminating rabies is a shared responsibility adding that Animal owners must vaccinate and responsibly manage their pets. Communities must promptly report suspected rabies cases and animal bites. Health and veterinary professionals must continue working together to ensure rapid referral, surveillance, diagnosis and response,”the minister said.