Dairy farmers in Uganda protest Kenya’s decision to ban milk importation

The move by Kenya to ban the importation of powdered milk to cushion her industry from surplus production and low producer prices has rubbed the Ugandan dairy farmers the wrong way.

The announcement made by Kenya Dairy Board on 6th March 2023 reinstates the 2021 ban on Ugandan milk products importation into Kenya.

The dairy farmers in Uganda are now protesting saying the directive by the Kenya Dairy Board goes against Kenyan President William Ruto’s recent directive to lift the ban on Ugandan agricultural produce such as milk, eggs and chicken.

Ruto made the directive after a meeting between President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and the Kenyan Trade Minister, Kuria Moses, in Kampala, in late January 2023.

Musinguzi Ethan, a dairy farmer in Sembabule district said that the new reinstated ban on dairy exports from Uganda to Kenya will set him back since he might fail to pay school fees for his three school-going children whose family heavily relies on dairy farming for survival.

“I often sell my milk early morning at the Milk Collection Centre near my home because the managers there have often informed us of the increased demand for milk within Uganda and beyond,” he said.

In the past, milk farm gate prices have gone as low as Ushs400 per litre, and yet currently there is more stability with an increase to Ushs1, 075 per litre as reported by Dairy Development Authority (DDA), 2021.

Currently, DDA reports over 880 licensed dairy businesses. Of these, some of the major producers include Pearl Dairies, Brookside Limited/ Fresh Dairy, Jesa Farm Dairy, Amos Dairies Uganda Limited, Paramount Dairies Limited, GBK Dairy Products Limited and Lakeside Dairy Limited among others.

The livelihood of dairy farmers in Uganda depends on both local consumption and export of milk and milk products.

According to the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), dairy farming is a strategic enterprise in Uganda that provides household food security and daily income to the large population. Milk farm gate prices have also increased to an average of Ushs1,072 per litre.

According to the DDA of Uganda, Milk production is estimated to have increased from 2.08 billion litres in 2015 to 2.64 billion litres in 2020.

By the end of 2021, milk production was estimated to reach 2.81 billion short of the target of 3.0 billion litres.

Dairy exports in the country reached a record high of Ushs358.6 billion in the last four years and nearly doubled compared to last FY 2019/20 with dairy equipment valued at Ushs18.9 billion being imported into the country to support the growing trade.

This implies that milk production in Uganda is on the increase with massive investments by dairy producers and farmers.

Uganda, being a member of the East African Community, trade experts say there is a need for government intervention in lobbying the Kenyan government to lift the ban on milk exports from Uganda.

This is in line with one of the objectives of the EAC which seeks to progressively transform into a single market that allows for the free movement of goods, persons, services, labour and capital.

The Kenya Dairy Board, in a statement to announce the ban, said it will monitor the production and demand for milk and milk products in the country and advise its government accordingly.