The Ministry of Agriculture has asked Parliament for Shs 17 billion to establish piggery breeding facilities on government ranches as part of efforts to boost pork and chicken production in Uganda.
Piggery farming in Uganda is a highly profitable, fast-growing enterprise driven by high local demand for pork, capable of significant economic transformation for households. Success requires proper housing, biosecurity to prevent swine fever, quality breeds for efficiency, feeding pigs 4% of their body weight daily or using specialized technology to reduce costs
Uganda has the highest per capita pork consumption in East Africa, estimated at 3.4–3.5 kg per person annually, driven by a rapidly expanding pig sector. With over 4 million pigs, the industry is a major income source for over 1 million households, primarily in central Uganda, with consumption peaking during festive seasons.
The request was presented by the State Minister for Animal Husbandry, Bright Rwamirama, while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture to defend the ministry’s 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper.
Rwamirama told MPs that the funds would be used to strengthen livestock breeding and production infrastructure on public farms.
“We intend to establish and renovate livestock breeding and production support infrastructure on government farms and ranches. The focus will be on piggery and poultry structures to support rapid breeding and production of high-performing pig and poultry breeds,” Rwamirama said.
He explained that the ministry plans to develop a comprehensive range of facilities to support large-scale breeding and disease control.
“The interventions will include livestock breeding paddocks, spray races, intensive disease control systems, sheds, valley tanks, among others. The estimated cost is about Shs 17 billion,” he added.
According to the ministry, the investment will improve the quality and availability of breeding stock for farmers, reduce production costs, and boost national supplies of pork and chicken—two of Uganda’s fastest-growing sources of animal protein.
If approved, the funds will be used to upgrade government-owned ranches into modern breeding centres capable of supplying farmers across the country with improved pig and poultry breeds.