The Uganda National Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has indicated that the number of livestock-keeping households in Uganda has increased to 6.8 million from 4.5 million.
Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore, the Minister of State for Animal Industry, stated that, according to the findings, the eastern region has the highest population of livestock, representing 28.7%, followed by the western region with 25.5%, the central region with 22.1%, the northern region with 20.2%, and the least livestock-keeping households were reported in the Karamojo region, constituting 3.4%.
He made these remarks on March 28, 2024, during the dissemination of the National Livestock Census 2021 Results at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala.
Rwamirama noted that the importance of the data is that it is used as a strategic tool for the management of the livestock sector, which needs to be overemphasized.
“The importance of this national livestock census report is that it helps us make informed decisions. When planning for an area, we must look at the demand because the demand must correspond to the numbers available in the community,” Rwamirama stated.
Rwamirama noted that the Census data will be used as a basis for policymaking in agricultural planning. Also, forecasting, which is a vital element in agricultural planning-will be simplified by the availability of the Census results.
Rwamirama stated that the quarantine for foot and mouth disease (FMD) remains in effect in the affected areas.
Aliziki Kaudha Lubega, the Director of Macroeconomics at UBOS, stated that the reports also indicate an increase in commercialized livestock.
She noted that there has been an increase in the female livestock-keeping household. According to Lubega, the number increased from 26.5% in 2021 to 34.1 percent in 2023, and the male household livestock-keeping number has reduced to 65.9%.
According to the census data, Uganda’s cattle population reached an impressive 14.5 million in 2021, representing a substantial 26.9% increase from the 11.4 million reported in 2008. About 8 in every 10 (80.6%) cattle-keeping households kept indigenous cattle, and 18.6 percent kept exotic or cross-breed cattle. The indigenous breed stands at 11.2 m, and the exotic/cross breed stands at 3.3m.
