No Legal Meat Imports from Uganda to Ethiopia, Minister Announces Investigation

The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has formally denied issuing import permits for meat products from Uganda. In response to growing concerns over food safety regulatory breaches and illicit trade channels, the Ministry has launched an official investigation into how the unauthorized shipments entered the country.

Fikru Regassa, State Minister for the Livestock and Fishery Resources Development Sector, confirmed that no legal framework or bilateral agreement currently exists to allow Ugandan meat products into the Ethiopian market.

The Ministry’s statement directly contradicts a recent announcement by Ugandan meat processing firm Ranchers Finest Ltd. On July 1, 2026, the company stated it had dispatched its inaugural shipment of processed beef to Ethiopia’s Diamond Hotel and Restaurant Group. Under the reported supply agreement, the firm planned to export approximately 20 tons of processed beef and other premium meat products, including sausages, steaks, and lamb, on a monthly basis to the Ethiopian hospitality sector.

According to Ranchers Finest, the contract was secured through a competitive procurement process, with the company selected due to its compliance with international food safety standards, including ISO 22000:2018 and HACCP certifications. The company’s CEO, Collin Muyanja, expressed confidence that the agreement reflected growing trust in Uganda’s meat industry and would unlock further regional export opportunities. Ugandan officials celebrated the development as a historic milestone, with Hilary Emmanuel Musoke Kisanja, Senior Presidential Advisor on Agribusiness, describing it as a major achievement for Uganda’s livestock value-addition capabilities.

Despite the accolades in Kampala, Ethiopian regulatory bodies maintain that the shipment bypassed standard legal channels. Fikru stated that he tried to verify the matter with the agricultural authority, but they have no record or knowledge of the transaction. He emphasized that this is a major concern for the Ministry, which is now investigating how the product managed to bypass regulatory checkpoints.

Fikru further emphasized that unlike the formal bilateral agreements Ethiopia has established with other nations, it has signed no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uganda regarding meat products. He pointed out that unauthorized entry points indicate smuggling corridors that the government intends to deeply investigate and shut down. The State Minister shared these disclosures during a press briefing reviewing the four-year achievements recorded under the Yelemat Tirufat initiative.

While strict controls are being enforced against unauthorized imports, Fikru used the opportunity to outline Ethiopia’s broader economic direction under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Ethiopia officially launched duty-free export trade to AfCFTA member states on October 9, 2025, with meat products being among the first air shipments sent to Kenya, Somalia, and South Africa.

Although Ethiopia has implemented preferential tariff reductions for 24 African nations, including Uganda, officials reiterated that regional trade liberalization does not exempt commercial entities from strict national biosecurity and regulatory compliance protocols.