Cattle Population in Greater Luwero is gradually increasing since 2008 census. Photos by Arnest Tumwesige
By Arnest Tumwesige
LUWERO: Greater Luwero’s cattle population stands at 827,512 heads, positioning the sub-region as one of Uganda’s key livestock hubs with significant untapped investment potential.
According to the 2021 Animal Livestock Population Census, Uganda’s national cattle population increased from 11.4 million in 2008 to 14.4 million, representing a 27.2 percent growth. Buganda North alone accounts for 1.6 million cattle, with Greater Luwero contributing a substantial share.
District-level data shows that Nakaseke leads with approximately 500,000 cattle, followed by Nakasongola with 271,512 heads of cattle, while Luwero district has the smallest share at about 56,000.
However, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics report of March 2024 on the National Livestock Census indicates that Nakaseke had 194,163 cattle, Nakasongola 265,386, and Luwero 56,424.
Nakaseke District, a major livestock zone, is divided into South, Central, and North regions. The northern belt covering Kinoni, Kinyogoga, Ngoma Town Council, Ngoma Sub-county, and parts of Wakyato forms the core cattle corridor, hosting nearly 80 percent of the district’s herd.
Dr. Derrick Mutegeki, the Nakaseke District Veterinary Officer told GLNA that the dairy and beef value chains in the district remain largely intertwined, with most farmers practicing mixed breeding.
Several milk collection companies including JEESA, Fresh Dairy, and Sinyangu operate alongside other five milk cooperatives, collectively handling about 10,000 litres of milk daily. Overall, the district produces approximately 250,000 litres of milk, much of which is collected and sold in bulk in the capital city.
However, household consumption remains high. On average, each household retains about 15 litres of milk daily, reflecting the strong cattle-keeping culture, particularly among pastoral communities.
Within the midstream segment, milk transportation is largely handled by informal actors, predominantly motorcycle riders. These transporters operate on commission, linking farmers to collection centres. In addition, small-scale value addition such as butter production is undertaken by a limited number of women, particularly in Ngoma, Kinoni, and Kinyogoga sub-counties.
The informal value chain
Despite the scale of production, significant inefficiencies persist. Farmers often transport milk over long distances to bulking centres, incurring losses. Sometimes middlemen then move the milk to processing plants in Kampala using refrigerated trucks.
Establishing a milk processing plant within Nakaseke would significantly enhance value addition and reduce post-harvest losses.
Milk prices in the district remain volatile. According to Dr. Mutegeki, Nakaseke records some of the lowest farm-gate prices nationally, with a litre selling between UGX 600 and 700, dropping to as low as UGX 400 during the rainy season. Prices can rise to UGX 1,500 during the dry season.
The value chain is further constrained by weak organization among key players. Transporters often use jerrycans, raising quality concerns, while women engaged in value addition operate informally. However, related micro-enterprises have emerged, including women-led businesses specializing in cleaning milk containers.
“Beyond that, there is a growing industry of women contracted to clean jerrycans. Some manage up to 300 containers with teams of three to four workers,” Dr. Mutegeki noted.
In the beef sector, opportunities remain underdeveloped, particularly in bull fattening and modern meat processing.
Livestock markets operate weekly across the district: Kinyogoga hosts markets on Mondays with 250-350 animals, Ngoma on Tuesdays with 600-800 animals, and Wakyato handles between 150-500 animals. In total, approximately 1,000 animals are traded weekly, most destined for Kampala markets.
The establishment of a modern abattoir within the district would streamline the supply chain by enabling transportation of processed meat rather than live animals.
Production Challenges and Interventions
Poor farm management practices, including overstocking and inadequate feeding, continue to affect livestock productivity, often leading to weight loss and reduced yields.
To address this, the district has established pasture demonstration centres across sub-counties to promote improved grazing practices. Development partners such as Heifer International are also supporting farmer sensitization and mindset change.
Climate change poses an additional challenge, particularly through prolonged droughts that lead to scarcity of water and pasture, ultimately affecting milk production.
The Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Program has further supported farmers by subsidizing irrigation systems. While over 90 percent of farmers rely on valley tanks for rainwater harvesting, these often dry up during prolonged droughts. Irrigation systems are increasingly being used to pump water for livestock.
Luwero District Outlook
In Luwero District, Dr. Fred Odua, the District Veterinary Officer, estimates that 60 percent of the cattle population is dairy. Key cattle-keeping sub-counties include Kikyusa, Kamira, Zirobwe, and Bututumula, with approximately 8,000 households engaged in livestock farming.
Cattle keeping in the district supports both dairy and beef production, contributing to household incomes through the sale of milk and manure.
The district benefits from its strategic location near Kampala, providing ready market access. It also hosts three cooperatives in Kikyusa, Zirobwe, and Bututumula.
However, emerging livestock diseases such as lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease remain a concern. With government support, the district has stocked vaccines to mitigate outbreaks.
To improve on the breeds, an Artificial Insemination (AI) Satellite Centre, serving Luwero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, and Kiryandongo districts, is playing a key role in breed improvement under the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre (NAGRIC). The district has 18 AI technicians, conducting approximately 150 inseminations monthly, with about 120 successful outcomes.
Nakasongola Production Dynamics
In Nakasongola, Mugerwa said that 70 percent of cattle are local breeds. Efforts have already started to promote improved dairy and beef farming practices through the regional AI center in Luwero.
Leading cattle-keeping areas include Nakitoma, Nabiswera, Wabinyonyi, Kakoge, and Migyera Town Council, with Nakitoma and Nabiswera leading in milk production.
However, productivity remains low, with an average yield of four litres per cow per day, compared to the potential of 10 litres. This gap is largely attributed to traditional management practices, including reliance on natural pastures and long-distance grazing.
The district is actively training farmers in pasture management, although adoption remains gradual. Progressively, farmers are beginning to shift practices after observing the benefits among peers.
