Dairy Farmers Reject New Rules

By Brian Ourien THE Uganda National Dairy Traders Association has rejected the report of the sessional committee on agriculture, animal industry and fisheries that recommends the marketing of only processed milk. Speaking at a press conference at the associations office in Kawempe, the chairman, Augustine Galuwero, said the report’s recommendation was designed to kill the informal milk industry. “Our understanding of this recommendation is an intent by the sessional committee and those who advised it to oust the otherwise ‘aggressive undisciplined informal sector,” he said. The report urges the minister and the Dairy Development Authority to explore ways of enforcing milk hygiene and the marketing of milk through formal channels after processing. This shuts out those who sell unprocessed milk. The traders argue that since not everyone can have access to processed milk, the smaller milk traders should be left to operate. Ends