‎Drought effect on regional milk industry as Kenya turns to Uganda

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reports that Kenya is increasingly buying milk from Uganda after a prolonged dry spell cut domestic milk production and left the Kenyan market short of supply. Kenya’s Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said at an event in Nakuru that local output was not meeting demand, prompting imports from neighboring countries, including Uganda.

The article says the shortage comes as Ugandan dairy farmers and processors are also feeling pressure from the same dry conditions. Jesa Farm Dairy, a major Ugandan processor and exporter, described a temporary milk shortage linked to reduced production in farming communities. Uganda’s Dairy Development Authority said milk output in the cattle corridor typically falls sharply in the dry season, and that this year’s dry period has lasted longer than usual, with some dams drying up and farmers traveling farther to find water and pasture.

The report places the development in the wider East African dairy market, where trade flows often shift with weather and seasonal supply. Kenya’s dairy board said formal milk deliveries to processors fell in July and were expected to weaken further in the following months. Uganda has expanded milk production over the past decade and, with lower domestic consumption than Kenya, still has a surplus available for export.

The article also notes that the trade relationship has been affected by earlier Kenyan restrictions on Ugandan milk imports, which at times limited access for Ugandan processors. The current import demand highlights how drought in one country can quickly affect prices, supply, and trade across the region.