Two beef plants will soon be in business in Uganda.  The plants will be set up in Nakaseke and Lyantonde says the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Major Bright Rwamiram.

The plants will be operated by the Uganda Meat Processors Cooperative, and the financing is being obtained by Norwegian agricultural cooperative, Nortura.

Uganda has been divided into four zones by the government. Each zone will have a meat processing plant. The first two plants are near completion, and the equipment is being imported from Norway.

The cooperative specializes in meat, poultry and egg processing.

Plans have been on the drawing board for the last two years

 “We think farmers can raise enough animals to supply the factories. Some beef dealers are still killing and dressing animals under trees and this practice must stop," says Minister Rwamiram.

Uganda Beef Producers Association Chairman Sam Kizito says, “We currently have a cattle herd of 7.3 million head of cattle, compared to Tanzania that has 33 million head and Kenya that has 40 million. Yet we produce 107,000 tons of beef,28,000 tons of sheep and goat meat a year."

Meat consumption in Uganda, is only 6 kilos per capita as the main diet is maize and corn.

Minister Rwamirama went on to say,  “Poor hygiene is a challenge that needs immediate attention. We must also improve the quality and the quantity of beef produced."

The newly formed Uganda Beef Producers Association is confident in the outcome of the new venture, but no financial figures have been released as to the cost of this large undertaking.

It was recently announced by the joint governments of Kenya and Uganda that they are going to build a railway line for fast express goods trains, from Kampala the capital of land locked Uganda, to the port of Mombassa in Kenya on  the Indian Ocean