Uganda’s poultry sector is emerging as a powerful engine for national development, moving beyond subsistence farming to become a cornerstone of agricultural transformation, job creation, and food security.
This was the central message delivered by the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Hon. Bright Rwamirama, over the weekend, as he inaugurated the World Egg Day Expo 2025.
The Minister commended the Poultry Association of Uganda (PAU) for organising the impactful event, which celebrates the egg as one of nature’s most complete and affordable sources of nutrition.
Vital Engine for Employment and Income
Hon. Rwamirama underscored the poultry industry’s “vital role” in Uganda’s current economic trajectory, noting that the sector is proving crucial in delivering direct benefits to communities and the national economy, highlighting the following:
Employment and Livelihoods
The industry is a significant creator of jobs and household income, particularly in rural areas, offering sustainable livelihoods to countless Ugandans.
Economic Growth
The Minister observed that the sector’s expanding output and integration into commercial value chains are making a notable contribution to overall economic growth and food security.
Hon. Ramirama explicitly urged the youth to recognise and explore the vast opportunities in poultry agribusiness, calling each egg a “symbol of opportunity, representing income for farmers, nutrition for families, and innovation for our youth.”
This call positions poultry farming not just as agriculture, but as a modern, profitable enterprise.
Government Commitment to a Competitive Sector
He revealed that the Government of Uganda, through MAAIF, is committed to building a “competitive, profitable, and sustainable poultry industry” capable of meeting both growing domestic demand and ambitious export targets.
Hon. Rwamirama highlighted several key government efforts focused on strengthening the entire poultry value chain, which include:
Full Value Chain Support: Strengthening every link, from breeding and feed production to processing and marketing.
Access and Extension: Ensuring improved access to quality inputs, essential extension services, and farmer cooperatives.
Biosecurity Focus: Emphasising the critical importance of disease control and biosecurity measures to protect livestock assets and ensure public health.
The Minister stressed the necessity of continuous collaboration among all stakeholders to promote best practices in vaccination, feed formulation, and value addition, which are critical for increasing profitability and ensuring market access.
Call for Partnership and Innovation
In his concluding remarks, Hon. Rwamirama called upon development partners, private sector actors, and investors to actively work with the government and farmers’ associations. The goal, he noted, is to scale up innovations that promote efficiency, sustainability, and expanded market access.
The celebration of World Egg Day 2025 served as a powerful reminder of the sector’s dual role: securing the nation’s food systems while simultaneously uplifting livelihoods and driving a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient agricultural sector for all Ugandans.