Museveni Endorses Egyptian Dairy Investment in Ngoma, Stresses Value Addition

President Yoweri Museveni has given his backing to Egyptian investors looking to establish a modern dairy processing facility in Ngoma, Nakaseke District. The project is expected to significantly bolster Uganda’s dairy industry, emphasizing the crucial aspect of value addition and opening new avenues for local farmers.

During a meeting at State House, Entebbe, with a delegation from the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), led by Maj. Gen. Khaled Shokry Ghaith, President Museveni highlighted Uganda’s strong foundation in milk production. He asserted that transitioning to mechanized dairy systems is entirely feasible, noting the country’s current annual milk output of 5.4 billion liters, with a substantial surplus available for processing and export.

“The transformation from manual to mechanized system is not a big issue. It is a question of mobilization and some investment because the manual system is the ancient way,” President Museveni remarked, underscoring the shift towards commercial agriculture.

The proposed facility, spearheaded by Egyptian investor Maj. Gen. Abdelkader Mohamed Nagy and Mr. Abdel Nasser Mohamed, aims to improve milk collection, processing, and facilitate Uganda’s ambition to export value-added dairy products. The plant is projected to have the capacity to process one million liters of milk daily, incorporating modern infrastructure and handling systems.

President Museveni directed that a clear proposal be developed for the efficient movement of milk from farms to cooling centers and the processing plant. He linked this dairy investment to Uganda’s broader industrialization goals, citing discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about socio-economic transformation in the Nile region.

The Egyptian delegation expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, with AOI showcasing its expertise in various industrial sectors. Local farmers from Ngoma, represented by Mr. David Kato Muyambi, welcomed the investment, citing previous challenges with limited processing and transportation facilities and offering land for the plant’s construction. The project also benefits from recent infrastructure improvements in the area, such as the tarmacking of the Luweero-Butalangu Road.

Source: https://statehouse.go.ug/president-museveni-backs-egyptian-investment-in-ngoma-dairy-project-emphasises-value-addition