Government to inspect all of pig slaughtering facilities to enforce safety standards

The Government is set to launch a nationwide inspection of pig slaughter facilities as part of efforts to strengthen safety, sanitation, hygiene and regulatory compliance across Uganda’s growing pork industry.
The inspection campaign will focus on ensuring that slaughter facilities meet the required technical and public health standards, according to Godfrey Kahuta, Assistant Commissioner for Veterinary and Public Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
Kahuta, who represented Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze, made the remarks on September 26, 2026, during the official launch of the Kampala-Wakiso Pork Dealers and Processors Ltd Farmers’ Training Manual at Nansana Pork World in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District.
The launch was held under the theme, “Transforming Uganda’s Pork Value Chain through Formalisation, Modernisation and Inclusive Growth.”
Kahuta said the Government was committed to giving greater attention to the piggery sector, which he said had not previously received sufficient scrutiny.
He said the planned nationwide inspections would assess slaughter facilities for compliance with safety standards, sanitation and hygiene requirements, as well as other technical and regulatory obligations.
Kahuta also highlighted the Government’s compulsory vaccination exercise against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which targets cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
He said the vaccination programme was intended to prevent outbreaks and reduce the economic burden the disease has imposed on farmers in recent years.
Kahuta congratulated the leadership of Kampala-Wakiso Pork Dealers and Processors Ltd for meeting registration requirements and pledged continued collaboration between the Government and the organisation in sensitising pork-sector players about regulatory requirements.
Pork dealers to embrace compliance
Fred Egesa, Deputy Director of Intelligence at Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), who represented OWC National Coordinator Gen. Salim Saleh Akandwanaho, commended the organisation for promoting compliance with safety standards.
Egesa, who is also patron of Kampala-Wakiso Pork Dealers and Processors Ltd, urged members to become ambassadors for compliance by sensitising other players in the pork industry about Government regulations.
He also encouraged members to take advantage of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other Government programmes to access financing for piggery enterprises.
Egesa said the organisation’s collective strength could also help members engage Government more effectively on issues affecting the sector and seek technical support.
Dr Stephen Kibuuse Lule, a senior veterinary doctor, delivered a training session to more than 100 participants on opportunities in piggery farming.
He urged farmers, traders and processors to understand and observe the regulations governing the sector while adopting modern production and business practices.
The training formed part of broader efforts by the organisation to professionalise Uganda’s pork value chain.
Livingstone Ssempebwa, chairperson of Kampala-Wakiso Pork Dealers and Processors Ltd, said the organisation has more than 243 members operating across Kampala, Mukono and Mpigi districts.
He described the membership as an emerging organised force within Uganda’s pork market and called for greater adherence to legal, regulatory and food-safety standards.
Ssempebwa said the organisation aims to provide services and programmes designed to professionalise the pork value chain while creating sustainable value for members and their communities.
The organisation’s Public Relations Officer, Nsibirwa, said its programmes also target young people and women seeking to establish businesses in pork trading and processing.
He said the organisation plans to provide training, mentorship and start-up support while developing modern processing capabilities for sausages, packaged meats and other branded pork products.
According to Nsibirwa, the organisation also intends to strengthen market linkages by connecting members with hotels, restaurants, institutional buyers and other markets.
Such linkages, he said, could reduce dependence on middlemen while improving incomes for producers and traders.
The organisation also plans to conduct training in modern pig farming, food safety, business management and hygiene standards to equip members with skills needed to compete in a modern market.
Industry players call for collective action
Luyinda Emmanuel, an executive member of the organisation and proprietor of Nansana Pork World and Ensava Pork Joint along Lubaga Road, said Uganda’s pork industry was at a critical stage in its development.
He identified informality, inadequate infrastructure and limited market access as some of the challenges facing the industry, but said the sector also offered significant opportunities for economic transformation.
“When farmers, traders, processors and partners work together under a shared vision and responsibility, guided by professional standards, powered by modern tools and anchored in integrity, remarkable things become possible,” Luyinda said.
He called on members of the public and industry stakeholders to support efforts to build cleaner markets, stronger businesses and better livelihoods through a more organised pork value chain.
Luyinda said the organisation brings together pig farmers, traders, transporters, slaughter operators, processors and marketers who share a common goal of building a stronger industry capable of creating jobs and generating revenue for the Government.
He noted that Uganda’s pork sector is among the rapidly growing segments of the agricultural economy, with Kampala and surrounding districts serving as a major pork market due to urbanisation, a growing middle class and increasing regional demand.
However, he said many operators had for years worked in isolation without the infrastructure, organisation and institutional support needed to fully realise the sector’s potential.