Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | The Kampala Butcher Association has issued guidelines to its members in the Kampala Metropolitan area to uphold food quality and safety control during the upcoming Christmas season.
Chairman Hajji Musa Senabulya emphasized the importance of professionalism among members, urging them to prioritize consumer safety by maintaining high standards in both product quality and preventing deceptive practices such as providing underweight meat.
In a pre-Christmas press conference conducted in Kampala, Senabulya further urged all butchers to refrain from increasing beef prices, acknowledging the challenging economic situation for many customers. He emphasized the importance of considering the financial constraints faced by the majority of consumers.
“We would like to call upon all butchers and veterinary officials irrespective of the town councils in greater Kampala to join hands to ensure that quality and food control is upheld,” Senabulya said.
Senabulya emphasized that maintaining professionalism and quality control is a comprehensive process, starting from the farm, through the abattoir, and reaching the butchers. He called on butchers to exercise vigilance, especially during the festive season when farmers sell their animals, regardless of their health status.
Highlighting specific concerns, Senabulya noted the unethical practice of selling pregnant and lactating animals, urging farmers to avoid such practices. He further urged cattle traders to ensure compliance with relevant authorities by obtaining necessary documents regarding the health of animals and ensuring their humane transportation.
The Kampala Butcher Association also advised its members to buy meat from officially designated slaughterhouses where animals undergo health checks by veterinary professionals before the slaughter process. These measures aim to uphold standards and prioritize the well-being of both consumers and animals.
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Senabulya issued a cautionary note to the public, advising against purchasing meat from temporary or makeshift butchers that often emerge during festive seasons. He highlighted the potential risks associated with such sources, emphasizing that they not only pose a threat to food safety but are also illegal.
“Make sure all the meat carcass that leaves the abattoir is certified with official stamps,” Senabulya said.
Expressing gratitude, he acknowledged the government’s swift response to the foot and mouth disease outbreak in the cattle districts of Sembabule and Kyotera. These affected areas have been promptly placed under quarantine, a measure Senabulya commended for its effectiveness in addressing the health concerns in the livestock sector.
