Spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the reforms aim to eliminate unhygienic practices in abattoirs and slaughterhouses, enforce stricter regulations, and promote humane treatment of animals.
The reforms follow years of concern over meat safety in Uganda, with substandard slaughter facilities and improper handling practices contributing to public health risks such as foodborne illnesses and zoonotic diseases.
According to Dr Henry Nakalet Opolot, Acting Permanent Secretary at MAAIF, the organization’s commitment to public health and food safety drives every investment in abattoir infrastructure.
“We are modernizing our systems to ensure Ugandan consumers enjoy safe, high-quality meat products while creating opportunities for international trade,” Dr Opolot stated.
Under the new framework, all meat slaughter facilities both public and private will be required to comply with updated standards issued by UNBS, including the US 734 standard for abattoirs and US 736 for butcheries.
MAAIF in a public document cautioned that facilities that fail to meet these benchmarks will face legal penalties.
According to MAAIF, in order support implementation, more than 1,200 meat inspection kits have been distributed to local governments nationwide.
“Inspectors are being retrained with modern, risk-based skills, and MAAIF is working with districts to provide technical guidance and registration assistance for meat businesses,” it said.
The ministry has also launched periodic and impromptu inspections to monitor compliance, with a focus on proper sanitation, humane animal handling, and environmental waste management.
MAAIF is working with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to fast-track the establishment of standardized meat slaughter facilities in nine cities and eleven municipalities. The government is also supporting private sector investment in export-grade abattoirs.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the campaign emphasizes disease prevention and environmental protection. All livestock destined for slaughter must now be vaccinated against notifiable diseases, including Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). Farm-level inspections and technical support are being ramped up to ensure that only healthy animals enter the food chain.
Meanwhile, regulations now require all slaughter facilities to implement proper waste disposal systems to prevent environmental contamination.
The government is also establishing a central database of all slaughter facilities, improving traceability and regulatory oversight.
MAAIF has launched public awareness campaigns via radio and local media to educate consumers on the importance of meat safety and the risks of consuming meat from unregulated sources.
