There is a need to develop more fatteners of beef cattle in Uganda. These words were echoed by Uganda’s Head of State President Yoweri K. Museveni, while commissioning the livestock resource center 2 (LRC2) of Uganda Meat Producers Cooperative Union Ltd, financed by the European Union. President Museveni who launched the LRC2 on 4th September 2020 from State House Entebbe, via video conferencing, pledged his readiness to be one of the beef fattening farmers.
The President was optimistic that with the proposal by UMPCU to select and mentor 10 model farmers supported by infrastructure and equipment, Uganda would ably meet international supply requirements. He said we should endeavour to increase the number of farmers and to have enough pasture which translates into higher production and productivity.
The President’s Assistant Private Secretary on Poverty Alleviation, Ms. Caroline Kembabazi urged UMPCU to enroll more farmers because the Union is a pillar for ensuring high standards of animal production and productivity.
Dr. Rose Ademun, the Commissioner for Animal Health in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), urged livestock farmers to use compartmentalization as an answer to animal disease control. She cautioned farmers against hiding their diseased animals because this escalates the spread.
The Director for Animal Health/Commissioner Animal Production in MAAIF, Dr. Juliet Ssentumbwe appealed to farmers to seek advice from the ministry concerning their animals. She advised them to prepare concepts to request for government support, and focus on profitability.
The members of Kyarujungu Meat Producers Co-operative Union expressed hope that the new LRC will reduce on their costs of production and trading. The newly constructed center in Kyarujungu, Biharwe, in Mbarara city houses a hay barn, holding grounds, an animal clinic and offices.