Uganda – Impacted by Kenya’s decision to limit import of Ugandan milk, the dairy sector in Uganda has turned its eyes west, securing a new trade partner in Senegal, a country of about 17 million that is heavily reliant on milk imports.
According to Senegal’s President, Macky Sall, Senegal imports dairy products from distant places and would be glad if Uganda could set in and fill the vacuum.
“Senegal imports powdered milk from New Zealand and Brazil and therefore we need to see how we can come and buy your milk,” Sall suggested.
“We also produce a lot of things in Senegal, we produce a lot of ground nuts; there are therefore a lot of possibilities to exchange ideas.”
Records from the Dairy Development Authority (DDA) show that Uganda’s revenue from export of dairy products rose from US$131.5m in 2018 to US$205m in 2020.
As of 2021, the country’s overall value of marketed milk stood at approximately US$850 million (Shs 3.1 trillion), which is 80.2% of the total milk produced.
Milk production in the country has since increased from 2.5 billion litres in 2018 to 2.8 billion litres in 2020, a rise attributed to the expansion of milk collection centres across the country.
On his part, Museveni expressed concern that the level of bilateral cooperation was still low and that not much has been achieved since the last bilateral cooperation agreement was signed in 1997.
Earlier this year, DDA revealed that the country was facing a significant challenge impacting the dairy sector leading to an oversupply of milk that resulted in 23 million litres being stuck and going to waste.
DDA’s acting executive director, Dr Samson Akankiza, attributed the situation to Kenya’s decision to limit issuance of import permits to Ugandan milk producers.
On the other hand, Maj Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, said that besides promoting local consumption through a school milk-feeding programme, they would export to more countries due to Kenya’s restrictions.
On a visit to Algeria, Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni reached an agreement with host Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the president of Algeria, to increase trade in agricultural goods, notably dairy products, and to increase cooperation in areas such as animal health.
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