Uganda launches new milk collection centre to boost dairy production in Teso Sub-Region

UGANDA – Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture has inaugurated a milk collection center in Bukedea with a capacity of 3,000 liters per day to enhance milk production and dairy projects in the Teso subregion.

According to Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze, who commissioned the facility, the Teso communities for donated land for the project and urged them to protect government assets such as the railway line, which facilitates local goods and services movement.

“With the milk coolers, Teso will become a vibrant cattle-keeping area,” he said during the groundbreaking ceremony in Bukedea town council. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing Bukedea with improved bulls for beef and reproduction.

The project has been entrusted to Landmark Establishments for execution. James Luyimbazi, the Chief Administrative Officer of Bukedea District, welcomed the project and pledged to allocate more land for future expansions.

In addition,  Colin Mutungi-Katungi, the Country Director of the Dairy Development Authority, reiterated Bukedea’s leadership for their cooperation and emphasized the numerous dairy products the project will bring.

Bukedea Town Mayor Samuel Engole promised full cooperation to promote and sustain government initiatives.

Similarly, State Minister of Works and Transport Musa Ecweru officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for another milk collection center in the Wera sub-county, Amuria.

The event was attended by Dairy Development Authority officials and Amuria’s Chief Administrative Officer, Angella Akurut.

Dr. Peter Cheli appealed to the government to provide pasture seeds to enhance the available pasture in Teso, which he believes will significantly boost milk production.

He cited the 2010 establishment of a milk collection center in Kabarwa sub-county under the Community Agricultural Infrastructural Improvement Project (CAIP) as a precedent.

Meanwhile, according to a report by The Economic Policy Research Center, Uganda has the potential to produce 10 billion litres of milk annually.

Despite the challenges, in 2023, Uganda achieved a significant milestone as milk production exceeded the 3 billion mark for the first time.

Data from Dairy Development indicated that milk production for FY2022/23 reached 3.85 billion litres, a remarkable 37% increase compared to the 2.81 billion litres produced in the previous financial year.

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