Despite the President allocating up to Shillings 38 billion for the program, it receives an average of only Shillings 350 million annually because it lacks a payment code.
The implementers of the Exotic
Goat Rollout Program, initiated by President Museveni to boost goat farming and
meat exports, are grappling with financial challenges that threaten the
project's success. Launched in 2019 as a five-year initiative, the program aims
to bolster goat meat production in Uganda.
It focuses on the rollout of
exotic goat production in several districts, including Sembabule, Gomba,
Mubende, Kyankwanzi, Wakiso, Nakasongola, and Nakaseke. Wakiso, due to its
peri-urban nature, exclusively concentrates on dairy goats. Paul Ssembeguya, the program's
lead implementer, revealed that limited funding has hindered their ability to
support an adequate number of farmers.
Out of 500 applications, they could only
provide goats to 31 farmers per district, leaving a gap between the intended
1,120 beneficiaries and 471 households reached so far.
Ssembeguya highlighted the
funding struggle, stating, "We've incurred losses as some of the farmers'
animals couldn't receive proper care due to a lack of specialized transport and
an insufficient number of personnel for extension services."
Despite the President
allocating up to Shillings 38 billion for the program, it receives an average
of only Shillings 350 million annually because it lacks a payment code. As a
result, it relies on the Ministry of Agriculture's budget, significantly
impeding its progress and raising questions about its viability among many
Ugandans.
Luganda:
//Cue in; “Kuba kati sente…
Cue out;… batya bakoze batya,”//
Stephen Kajura, the national
coordinator of the meat export services project in the Ministry of Agriculture,
explained that the project's funding challenges arise from competing priorities
within the ministry. Resources primarily focus on controlling animal diseases,
leaving limited funds for initiatives like this one, which has yet to secure
its funding code from the Ministry of Finance.
Kajura added that they are
actively working to shift the project's funding from recurrent to development
within the government of Uganda's budget, ensuring a safeguarded budget. Additionally,
as a solution to the funding problem, they are exploring a concessional loan of
up to 32 million Euros to support both the Goat Rollout Program and the beef
export project. This process is advancing, with a projected completion date in
May 2024.
//Cue in;
“Our funders require…
Cue out; … than six months,”//
According to Kajura, the
program has already received a market request from the Arab world to supply 30
tons monthly, which could help repay the loan quickly.
"We remain hopeful
for the coming year. It's important to remember that the farmers aren't at
fault here; they simply need support services. With this funding, previous
studies suggest that within three to four years, these enterprises can generate
the required funds, as we're building on the hard work of our farmers,"
Kajura emphasized the resilience and dedication of Uganda's goat farmers.
The introduction of these 47 male goats represents a significant enhancement to the project. It aims to
prevent inbreeding that could potentially harm existing livestock. Each of these
males has been acquired at a cost of 7.5 million shillings, underscoring the
commitment to ensuring the project's long-term success and genetic diversity.
