Museveni Backs Andile Ramaphosa’s Bid to Export Ankole Cattle Genetics to South Africa

KAMPALA, UGANDA — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has welcomed a multi-billion proposal for a Regional Farm Service Centre Initiative, a strategic move aimed at combating counterfeit agro-inputs and positioning Uganda as a powerhouse in livestock genetics.

The President gave his nod of approval during a high-level meeting at State Lodge, Nakasero, where he hosted a South African delegation led by businessman Andile Ramaphosa.

The delegation presented a comprehensive proposal for a tripartite collaboration involving the Namunkekera Farm Service Centre, the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), and Mr. Ramaphosa.

Exporting the Ankole Pride to SADC

The proposed partnership seeks to establish state-of-the-art infrastructure for profiling, controlled breeding, harvesting, and exporting the highly sought-after Ankole cattle genetics to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and beyond.

Speaking during the presentation, Mr. Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa’s interest in leveraging and enhancing these unique genetics.

“We would like to improve the quality of cattle to be like the ones in South Africa,” Mr. Ramaphosa noted, underscoring the commercial potential of the cross-border venture.

President Museveni commended the partners for the foresight, describing the initiative as a massive wake-up call and a positive leap forward for Uganda’s livestock industry.

“I wish to express my gratitude to these people for awakening from slumber and coming up with ideas that can contribute to the transformation of our agricultural sector,” the President said.

Direct Blow to Counterfeit Agro-Inputs

Beyond livestock genetics, the initiative targets one of the agricultural sector’s most stubborn bottlenecks: fake farming products.

The proposal outlines the establishment of a Build, Operate, and Transfer (B.O.T) laboratory. This facility will act as a regulatory shield, providing top-tier quality assurance, product verification, and strict regulation to flush out counterfeit agro-inputs from the Ugandan market.

             ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
             │       THE TRIPARTITE LIVESTOCK GENETICS ALLIANCE       │
             └───────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────┘
                                         │
                    ┌────────────────────┼────────────────────┐
                    ▼                    ▼                    ▼
             [ NAGRC & DB ]       [ Namunkekera ]     [ Ramaphosa Group ]
             State-backed genetic  Farm Service hub    SADC regional market
             bank & regulation.    infrastructure.     access & investment.

Museveni’s Masterclass on Selective Breeding

An enthusiastic cattle breeder himself, President Museveni offered scientific advice to the delegation, urging them to categorize and isolate the cattle according to specific genetic traits to maximize commercial value.

“If you want to farm, get a specific gene. They must have distinct characteristics—some are meant for beef, others have high-value milk yield, and there are those known for giving excellent offspring,” President Museveni advised.

The landmark collaboration is anticipated to catalyze rapid growth in Uganda’s multi-million livestock economy, boost regional trade, and finally give the iconic Ankole cattle a structured global market.

Key Pillars of the Partnership:

• Genetic Export: Structured framework to export premium Ankole cattle genetics to South African markets.

• Agro-Input Security: A modern B.O.T laboratory to test, verify, and eliminate counterfeit farming inputs.

• Capacity Building: Upgrading local breeding infrastructure through public-private expertise sharing.