Written By |
Obasanjo accompanied by President Museveni touring Pearl Dairy Farms Limited factory
Search
By Our Reporter
Nigeria is set to start importing milk and coffee from Uganda. This was revealed by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo during a courtesy visit to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday.
President Museveni also took Obasanjo on a tour of Pearl Dairy Farms Limited in Mbarara City, and they later met with farmers from Kiruhura and Kazo districts at Kaaro in Kiruhura District.
Obasanjo checking out milk products
Obasanjo expressed his pleasure at learning about Uganda's high milk production and assured President Museveni and the farmers of Kiruhura and Kazo that Nigeria is eager to purchase Ugandan processed milk and coffee. “I am here to explore how Nigeria can buy Ugandan milk and expand the production of processed milk and coffee,” Obasanjo said.
He noted that Africa's problem lies in many Africans not understanding their own challenges, highlighting that while Nigeria has been importing milk from Europe, Uganda produces more than enough milk for export.
“It was only recently that I discovered Uganda is Africa's leading exporter of milk,” Obasanjo said, according to a release from the Presidential Press Unit.
Obasanjo speaks to Ugandan farmers
President Museveni thanked Obasanjo for visiting Uganda and for Nigeria's willingness to partner in purchasing Ugandan milk and coffee. He assured Obasanjo that Uganda has the capacity to meet the demands of both local and international markets.
Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Kataha Museveni, President Museveni also commissioned the newly upgraded Nshwere Church of Uganda, which was refurbished and expanded by Tororo Cement Company Limited.
During the event, President Museveni advised farmers against free-range grazing and encouraged them to adopt zero-grazing methods by planting silage to maximize profits from their farms. He also recommended that families register their businesses as companies instead of dividing family assets, ensuring sustainability.
He reminded farmers that they are not only producing for Uganda but also for the broader African market.
Bright Rwamirama, Uganda's Minister of State for Animal Industry, noted that the country’s export value currently stands at $264.5 million. He also informed farmers of the government’s plans to tackle tick infestations, which will help boost milk production. He added that a tick vaccine is in advanced stages of development.
Dairy and coffee sectors at a glance
The latest livestock census revealed a 26.9% increase in Uganda's cattle population, growing from 11.4 million in 2008 to 14.5 million in 2021. Of this, indigenous cattle accounted for 77%, while exotic and crossbreeds made up 23%. In 2021, milk production increased to an estimated 71.7 million liters per week, amounting to an annual production of 3.7 billion liters, compared to 667.5 million liters in 2008. Milk production in Uganda is primarily dominated by small-scale farmers, who own over 90% of the national cattle population.
The highest percentage of milk production was recorded in the western region, contributing 40%, followed by the central region with 34.3%. The northern region had the lowest output, accounting for just 3.7% of the total production.
Farmers welcoming Obasanjo in Westenr Uganda
In 2022, Uganda exported about $45.7 million worth of milk. The main export destinations were Kenya ($44.6 million), Rwanda ($911,000), the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($82,300), Tanzania ($41,500), and Burundi ($17,900). In contrast, coffee remains Uganda’s leading export, with quantities growing from 3 million bags (each weighing 60 kg) in 2012 to 6 million bags today.
Coffee exports for the 12 months from August 2023 to July 2024 totaled 6.3 million bags, valued at $1.25 billion (about UGX 4.6 trillion), compared to 5.84 million bags worth $868.53 million (UGX 3 trillion) in the previous year (August 2022-July 2023).
Currently, over 12.5 million Ugandans derive their livelihoods from coffee production, making it a critical sector for the country's economy.
Torch Media Africa
