Judith Namulindwa Builds Thriving Rat Breeding Venture in Seguku

Judith Namulindwa, a resident of Seguku-Katale in Wakiso District, has turned rat breeding into a lucrative business. She breeds albino rats and guinea pigs on an 8x7 meter section of her compound, maintaining clean cages with regular feeding and ventilation.

Her entry into this venture began unexpectedly in 2016 while buying rabbit feed. Encouraged by her supplier, she invested Shs150,000 in three pairs of rats at Shs50,000 each, plus one more on credit. Lacking formal training, she relied on trial and error, creativity, and guesswork to succeed over eight years.

Namulindwa shifted fully from rabbit farming due to space efficiency— one cage holds up to 300 rats versus just four rabbits. Rats breed every six weeks, allowing her to maintain around 3,000 animals. She sells them for Shs10,000 to Shs100,000 each to schools for practical lessons, research institutions, and pet owners.

Marketing happens via TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube videos, photos, and word-of-mouth. Demand dips during school holidays but remains steady from other buyers. These multi-purpose rodents also serve scientific experiments and food in some cultures.

Her daughter, Juliet Nansubuga, joined after losing her media job and discovering the profits during a delivery. Now self-employed, Nansubuga helps run the farm. Namulindwa’s success has motivated neighbors like poultry farmer Amina Nasseje to start rat breeding, citing its low costs compared to traditional livestock.

While no official data tracks rat farming’s economic role, rising science and innovation in Uganda boosts demand. Namulindwa calls for government expansion of markets and training, while Nasseje urges demonstration farms for better knowledge on care, breeding, and treatment.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)