Nakaseke District – The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, commissioned the UGX 845 million Buwana Milk Collection Centre located in Kinyogoga Sub-County, Nakaseke District.
Constructed under the Local Economic Growth Support (LEGS) Project, the facility marked a significant milestone in strengthening the dairy value chain and enhancing rural incomes across Nakaseke’s cattle corridor.
The milk collection centre was one of several strategic investments by the LEGS Project in Nakaseke, aimed at improving infrastructure, boosting agricultural productivity, and expanding market access.
Other interventions completed by the LEGS project in Nakaseke included:
- Rehabilitation of the 33 km Gomero–Migani–Kagongi–Buwana Road
- Construction of the Gayaza–Kalungu–Mityomere Community Access Road
- Erection of Magoma and Katelekamese Market Sheds
- Establishment of the Kikwata Coffee Processing Facility
- Construction of the Kiwoko Maize Milling Plant
These developments significantly improved connectivity and market linkages, enabling farmers to transport their produce, particularly milk, more efficiently and profitably.
Mr. Abaho Dan, Chairperson of the Buwana Comparative Milk Group, confirmed that the community had sufficient milk supply to fully utilize the facility. He added that plans were underway to venture into milk value addition to help stabilize and improve prices.
“Previously, a litre of milk sold for UGX 700, but we expected this to increase with value addition through processing,” he said.
He credited the improved Gomero–Migani road for easing market access. “Before the road was rehabilitated when it was impassable, a litre of milk fetched only UGX 200. After the improvements, prices rose to UGX 700,” he noted.
The milk centre complemented the LEGS project’s efforts to enhance livestock productivity, including the training of Artificial Insemination (AI) technicians in the district two years prior. Local youth and extension workers had also been equipped with AI skills, a initiative expected to improve cattle breeds and increase milk production.
The LEGS Project aligned with the Parish Development Model (PDM) by addressing critical pillars such as production, value addition, infrastructure development, market access, and financial inclusion.
Through this integrated approach, the Government of Uganda, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, and Islamic Development Bank had worked to transform rural livelihoods and empower subsistence farmers to transition into the money economy.
