_______________

KAMPALA - Teso has emerged as the region with the highest number of households keeping sheep in the country.

According to the National Livestock  Census 2021,  the Teso sub-region had the highest number of sheep-keeping households, 15.6%.

Karamoja, on the other hand, had 15.0%, followed by West Nile (13.8%) while the Bukedi sub-region had the lowest percentage of livestock-keeping households who kept sheep.

The findings of the new report were launched at the Imperial Royale Hotel on Thursday, March 27, by the Minister of State for Animal Husbandry Dr Bright Rwamirama.

According to the report, however, Karamoja still holds the record of having the highest sheep population in Uganda, at 1.8 million. "This contributes 40.4 per cent of the national herd, " said the report.

Western Uganda, in the second position, has a total population of 900,000 sheep and contributes about 20.7 per cent of the national herd. Teso, with 405,000, contributes 9.3 per cent while West Nile, with 398,000, contributes 9.1 per cent.

Busoga, with 55,000 sheep, and Bukedi, with 65,000, contribute the least.

Exotic breeds

Analysis of the report shows that 92.7 per cent of the sheep-keeping households kept indigenous sheep while only 1.8 per cent kept exotic or cross-breed sheep.

"Exotic/cross-breed sheep were most common in the Buganda south sub-region households with 24.0 per cent of sheep-keeping households in the region keeping exotic sheep, followed by Elgon with 22.0 per cent. Bukedi (1.5%), and Acholi (1.1%) had the least proportion," said the report.

A typical livestock-keeping household in Uganda kept an average of one (1) sheep. In terms of region, a typical livestock-keeping household in Karamoja owned the highest average number of sheep (8.5).

Uses of sheep

The main livestock product from sheep farming is lamb, which can be sold fresh or frozen.

Sheep are also good for wool production, and their manure can be used as fertiliser for crops.

Pastor Robert Kayanja, who owns a farm in Kiryandongo, told New Vision recently that sheep have a high potential for money because of their various attributes, including their ability to multiply fast and tolerate diseases and the harsh weather.

He said sheep can be reared along with other animals like goats and cattle because, at a certain point, they take the same feeding.

According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the total sheep population in Uganda was 4.4 million in 2021, an increase of 27.8 per cent from 3.4 million in 2008.