Entebbe — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially launched Uganda’s maiden export consignment of whole powdered milk to Algeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s dairy industry and regional trade ambitions.
At the inaugural shipment ceremony held at State House Entebbe, attended by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, led by Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, and those from Brookside Limited, the President flagged off four containers of powdered milk, equivalent to 500 metric tons.
The consignment is part of the total 2,100 metric tons of high-quality milk powder, worth over USD 8 million, that is to be sent to Algeria.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Museveni recalled his 2023 visit to Algiers, where he held strategic discussions with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on strengthening bilateral trade, particularly in agriculture and agro-processing.
“During my visit to Algeria in March 2023, I had good discussions with His Excellency President Abdelmadjid Tebboune regarding Algeria’s interest in importing milk from Uganda. I am, therefore, happy to see the first shipment of whole powdered milk, starting with an initial batch of 500 tonnes valued at $8 million,” President Museveni said in a statement.
The development follows increased efforts by Uganda to diversify its export markets and unlock the full potential of its dairy sector, which has seen steady growth in production and processing capacity. Algeria, a North African powerhouse with a large population and growing demand for dairy products, represents a strategic partner for Uganda’s expanding dairy exports.
The move will not only earn the country valuable foreign exchange but also boost incomes for local farmers and reinforce Uganda’s position as a key player in Africa’s agricultural value chains.
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, congratulated Brookside and the dairy sector for the milestone, expressing hope that increased exports will sustain the market for farmers.
“Algeria is a market we’ve been pursuing for some time. When the President visited that country in 2023, one of the bilateral negotiations and the MOU we signed was to allow our coffee and milk. I want to congratulate Brookside, as well as the dairy sector and its farmers, on the opening of this market,” Hon. Tumwebaze said.
The export deal is part of broader bilateral trade arrangements signed during Museveni’s 2023 state visit to Algeria. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, alongside the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), played a critical role in facilitating the agreement and ensuring quality compliance with Algerian standards.
According to Mr. Kennedy Gatheru, the Director of Finance at Brookside Africa Limited, the partnership will open up a large market that the whole country can benefit from. “It’s the beginning of many opportunities,” he said while expressing gratitude to President Museveni for his involvement in securing the Algerian market.
“From your personal trade intervention, and with your involvement, we are confident of securing further export opportunities for our range of dairy products,” Mr. Gatheru added.
During an official meeting on 13th December, 2024, at State Lodge Nakasero, where President Museveni hosted Mr. Ahmed Attaf, Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and a special envoy of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Ugandan leader commended the growing cooperation between Uganda and Algeria, expressing his gratitude to his Algerian counterpart for the tangible progress made in implementing bilateral agreements.
In the same meeting, Mr. Attaf informed President Museveni that Algeria’s goal is to redirect its annual $700 million milk import budget towards Uganda due to its high-quality fresh milk.
Uganda’s dairy sector has become one of the most competitive in the region, with production surpassing 2.8 billion litres annually. The country currently exports milk products to over 15 countries across Africa and the Middle East, and this latest milestone opens a crucial gateway to North Africa.
