African swine fever in Uganda : attitudes and possible interventions to limit the spread of the disease

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the attitude towards African swine fever (ASF) primarily among smallholder pig farmers but also among other actors along the pork value chain in Gulu district, Uganda. More specifically, the study aimed to investigate the specific challenges facing both farmers and other members of the pork value chain using participatory epidemiology (PE). ASF is a feared viral disease of pigs associated with high mortality, which is endemic in many parts of Africa. The recent history of Gulu district in Northern Uganda can be described as turbulent and the human population has suffered during decades of war and civil unrest. Pig keeping is considered a potential opportunity for business as well as a way of providing more animal protein in the diet. However, this is threatened by ASF as farmers can lose entire herds due to the disease. This study can confirm some previously known factors and risk activities such as the free range system of pigs and movement of pigs and pork during ongoing outbreaks, which make disease control difficult. ASF has severe socio-economic implications for the pig owners and society as a whole. The study demonstrates that the local participants have relatively good knowledge about ASF and how to prevent disease although this knowledge was not always turned into practice. Many of the participants in the study showed a great willingness to change the current systems and establish new ways of keeping pigs to reduce outbreaks of ASF and improve pig production.