Uganda poultry industry suffers with Kenya ban

A ban on poultry exports to Kenya, which was put into place approx. 2 years ago following an outbreak of bird flu, has not yet been lifted, yet Kenya continues to export to Uganda without any restrictions.

"There is a trade imbalance. Kenya has denied us from exporting chicks to their country yet they freely export their chicks into Uganda," said Aga Ssekalala of Ugachick Poultry Breeders and chairman of the Poultry Association of Uganda, adding that the situation is not healthy for the East African Community Customs Union integration where "we are supposed to trade freely as member states in the region".

In November 2007, last year, a delegation was sent to Uganda assess the operations of the various poultry farms with the view of lifting the ban. However, no report has been dispatched from Kenya nor has the ban been lifted.

According to Marketing Manager of Ugachick Poultry Breeders, Ms Immaculate Ngulumi, each week Kenyan farmers export 15-20,000 day-old chicks to Uganda to Ugandan distributors but Uganda has not been given a chance to utilise the opportunity when we given orders from Kenya.

It is reported that the Ugandan poultry industry directly supports 200,000 people and more than one million indirectly. It is likely that if the situation persists many could lose jobs and revenue.