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President Museveni officially launches the Royal Milk Enterprises Factory in Naukolongo, Kampala
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By Our Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni officially launched the Royal Milk Enterprises Factory in Nalukolongo, Kampala, on Wednesday, encouraging dairy firms to focus on producing milk powder for export to boost the economy and ensure food security. Founded in 1995 by Hajji Buruhan Kigoye, Royal Milk Enterprises began as a small business in Masindi, Bunyoro sub-region, where Kigoye initially transported milk by bus to Kampala. The company, now run by his children, collects 200,000 litres of milk daily from 25 centres across Uganda.
Museveni stressed that Uganda’s annual production of 5 billion litres of milk offers a significant export opportunity. He advised the dairy sector to shift from liquid milk to milk powder, which has a longer shelf life, is easier to transport, and fetches higher prices globally. “Liquid milk is heavy and costly for exportation, but processing it into powder makes it lighter and less expensive. This is the direction we need to take to meet international market demands,” he said.
He also urged the factory to expand its focus to Ultra Heat Treatment (UHT) milk, which would further reduce transportation costs and expand market reach, adding that each Ugandan should ideally consume 210 litres of milk annually. Currently, Uganda produces 5.3 billion litres but only consumes 800 million litres domestically, leaving a surplus of 4 billion litres.
Jan Sadek, the EU Ambassador to Uganda, praised Royal Milk for its role in advancing Uganda’s industrial transformation, noting that local companies adding value to milk are key to real growth.
Royal Milk’s Executive Director, Saleh Businge Kigoye, requested government support to install an Ultra Heat Treatment (UHT) plant to double production capacity and create more jobs. Museveni pledged to assist with this investment through government funding.
The company’s Sales Manager, Sudaisi Abdul Kirunda, thanked Ugandans for their support and vowed to continue producing high-quality milk products.
Torch Media Africa
