‘Promoting meat export’

The union was registered on the 3rd of Dec 2008 (Reg nr 8808/RCS)

30 Primary Cooperatives as members - all involved with cattle keeping for meat (each with no less than 30 farmers per P/coop)

Each Primary coop has to buy 10 shares to become a member of the union.

Primary coops scattered throughout the Central & western cattle corridor – expansion will include the Northern & Eastern districts (with high cattle concentration)

Who we are

Our Mission 

‘To establish and maintain best practices and standards with involvement of members and other stakeholders to produce value for money meat and meat products’

 

 Our Vision

‘To be the leading producers of high quality meat and meat products for local and foreign markets’

 

  Artificial insemination with our member Primary Cooperatives Animal identification & ear tagging pilot project Financial support to operate Primary Cooperative offices Farm records keeping and management Visits to ‘established’ farms by other farmers Preparations for establishing one abattoir for the local, regional and

Middle Eastern meat markets. Visits to member Primary Cooperatives by the Executive committee

& the Chief Executive Officer Sensitization on union activities to non-member cooperatives Advocating for better animal transportation services , training in

various farming aspects, ie; pasture management, animal transportation, water harvesting and controlling diseases.

 

What services do we provide

But this pictures has ‘gone around’ the world and the negative publicity that goes with it, can never be restored. Is that what we want for

Uganda?

We all might think this is funny….

Currently, the union do not provide ‘constant’ transportation services to its members, but if our future plans go according to schedule we should have our own slaughter house/abattoir in 24-30 months – which means we will need proper transportation for our members’ animals.

At the moment its on a ‘need/want’ basis From the farm to the slaughter facility From the slaughter facility to the

markets/clients etc.

Transportation services

Current transport situation

No proper cattle trucks Over loading of cattle/goats any livestock Extra loading with other products Excess of ‘humans’ on the vehicle – on top of

the livestock No proper loading ramps Long hours of transport – weather elements

not taken into consideration Laws/regulations not enforced Penalties/fines not related to ‘load values’

Damaged/stressed animals produce bad quality meat

Bad quality meat means lower prices to the farmers

Consumers purchase bad quality meat at exorbitant prices

Visitors to Uganda consumes bad quality meat in restaurants and hotels – giving our meat a ‘bad name’ in the international world

Export markets will not want to buy our meat if we are not complying to international transportation laws/regulations

Why is it necessary to develop proper livestock transportation?

NO – we can adapt/change existing laws/regulations

We have to make sure its enforced accordingly

We have to make changes onto existing livestock trucks/vehicles

We have to train livestock ‘loaders’ & transporters

We have to make sure the farmers/producers are responsible for their animals ‘all the way’ to the market

Do we have to re-invent the ‘wheel’?

Animals should be transported in a ‘humane’ way – they are entitled to this and its our responsibility to make this happen – everyone of us should encourage this.

Thank you for your attention