NTUNGAMO – The former Ntungamo District MP, Bata Kamateneti, has unveiled an ambitious plan to establish an egg-processing initiative that will convert surplus produce into powdered and liquid forms.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Kamateneti unveiled the bold egg-processing vision over the past weekend, poised to revolutionize Uganda’s poultry sector, reshape the nation’s agricultural landscape, and directly confront malnutrition.
The former legislator revealed that the program is aimed at stabilizing egg prices, creating jobs, and strengthening the value chain, while addressing child malnutrition and supporting sickle cell and cancer patients.
Kamateneti said she envisions modern plants that will curb post-harvest egg losses while providing essential protein to vulnerable populations, including children and the chronically ill, both in Uganda and other countries.
She recalled the 2021 COVID-19 crisis, when Kenya banned Ugandan egg imports, crashing prices to as low as Shs5,000 per tray, a devastating blow to farmers already reeling from volatility, underscoring the urgent need for change.
“Uganda must prioritize industrialization and value addition rather than exporting raw agricultural products and importing finished goods at higher costs. All the catastrophic egg production losses can be prevented by processing surplus eggs into longer-lasting powder and liquid products,” Kamateneti emphasized.
Kamateneti said she traveled to Italy for specialized training in egg powder production, joining just a handful of nations worldwide, including Brazil, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Italy, that currently operate such industries.
She now aims to launch Uganda’s first pasteurized egg powder initiative, a program expected to significantly reduce child stunting and expand access to nutritious food across the country.
The former MP raised pointed questions about current practices, questioning why some nutrition centers in Uganda import egg powder from India at approximately US$23 per kilogram, despite the abundance of locally produced eggs, where a tray of 30 eggs costs roughly Shs15,000.
She disclosed that she has already secured contracts to supply egg powder to the Uganda Cancer Institute, the Sickle Cell Centre, and Butabika National Referral Hospital, institutions that serve some of the nation’s most vulnerable patients.
The investment in egg processing and value addition would generate substantial employment opportunities for Uganda’s growing youthful population while increasing government revenue through industrial development.
Uganda is home to about 50 million laying birds, producing approximately 907 million eggs annually, a figure she says is more than sufficient to support a thriving domestic egg-processing industry.
President Museveni, through the NRM government, has been on a course to promote value addition through initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and investments in coffee processing.
The initiative represents a beacon of hope for poultry farmers who have long struggled with market fluctuations and post-harvest losses, for children who need affordable nutrition, and for patients requiring specialized dietary support.
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