The call to harness opportunities in the poultry sector was made during the ongoing World Egg Day Expo at Old Kampala Secondary School, which attracted hundreds of young people, farmers, investors, and stakeholders from the poultry value chain. The event’s chief guest, State Minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama, highlighted the immense potential within the poultry industry, especially for young entrepreneurs.
“Every egg represents income for a farmer, nutrition for families, and innovation for the youth. I urge young people to tap into the growing opportunities in agribusiness, particularly in poultry, processing, and marketing,” Rwamirama stated. He pointed out that poultry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Uganda’s livestock industry, with over 5.2 million households involved in poultry farming as of 2021— a 54.7% increase since 2008.
The minister also emphasized the nutritional value of eggs, calling them "one of nature’s most complete and affordable sources of nutrition." “An egg provides ten times the nutritional value of a plate of beans for a child. Eggs are affordable and accessible to every family,” Rwamirama added.
Additionally, Rwamirama announced that the government is expediting the Animal Feeds Law to protect consumers and improve standards across the poultry value chain. He noted that modern poultry farming presents significant job creation opportunities. "Many youth are already employed in this sector. If you look around at roadside grills selling poultry products every evening, you’ll see employment created by this industry," he explained.
Henry Mambwe, Chairman of the Poultry Association of Uganda, echoed the minister's sentiments and called for collective efforts to make poultry products more affordable and profitable, particularly for young people. "This expo is not just an exhibition; it’s a platform for collaboration and innovation. Our goal is to make poultry products more nutritious, affordable, and accessible to every Ugandan household," Mambwe said. He also highlighted the untapped potential of the market, noting that Uganda’s chicken consumption is much lower than that of other African nations. “In South Africa, people consume 40 to 50 kilograms of chicken per person per year, while Uganda is at just 1.6 kilograms. There is vast room for growth, especially for our youth,” he pointed out.
The expo included live demonstrations on modern breeding techniques, feed formulation, disease management, and value addition, with companies showcasing improved poultry breeds, feeds, vaccines, digital farm tools, and agritech solutions tailored for young farmers. Organizers emphasized the goal of equipping youth with practical skills and connecting them to market opportunities, financial services, and technology to scale their poultry businesses.