Slaughter house worth Shs 47.3 million opens in Nwoya
NWOYA – Nwoya district has finally centralized slaughtering animals for commercial purpose after constructing a slaughter house worth Shs 47.3m in Anaka Town Council.
The slaughter house that became operational on October 4th, 2021 was funded under the Agricultural Extension Grant from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
It is the first modern slaughter house in the entire district where meat sellers have been slaughtering their animals in ungazetted places.
Dr James Ukwir, the Nwoya District Production Officer who also doubles as the District Veterinary Officer, told theCooperator news that for the first time, locals in Nwoya district are eating clean and wholesome meat.
“People have been slaughtering animals in ungazetted places like behind latrines but this has now been centralized which gives the meat inspector opportunity to inspect meat being sold to the public,” he said.
Ukwir also said Anaka Town Council will be able to earn revenue from slaughtering fees charges on animals.
Statistics of animals slaughtered daily in Nwoya district could not be easily obtained but Ukwir said about 30 cows are slaughtered during festive celebrations.
Okema Denis, the L.C 111 Chairperson Anaka Town Council said, controlling the slaughter of animals had become difficult with the absence of a slaughter house.
“It was difficult to know if people were being sold real meat because the town council had no way of controlling what comes to the market,” Okema said.
He said that the town council has left the Anaka Town Council Butchers Association to manage the slaughter house for one year before it can officially tender it out and be able to collect taxes from it.
According to Okema, the slaughter house will also go a long way to reduce poor disposal of inedible parts of slaughtered animals.
“The Town council had become too dirty and stinky because butcher people would throw the inedible waste anywhere.”
Malobo Richard Lajin, the Chairperson Anaka Butchers Association says, they are now able to sell meat to Muslim customers too.
“In the past, Muslims were not buying meat from us because they were concerned that they had been slaughtered by non-Muslims but now we have a Muslim who slaughters the animals every day before the meat is distributed to the different butchers,”
Malobo noted that even other customers have in the past expressed concern over the poor hygiene in the places where the animals were being slaughtered.
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