Here’s why I believe Ankole is sleeping on its sacred cow

What the report says

The Observer published a commentary arguing that Ankole communities are failing to make full use of the longhorn cattle as a cultural and commercial brand. The author, writing from rural Kifuuta in Kyotera, says the animal is not simply livestock but a symbol of Ankole heritage and pride that should be better positioned in the market. The piece is framed as a call to rethink how the region presents itself, rather than a political argument.

The article contrasts Ankole with other places that have built strong identities around specific products or images. It cites Buganda’s long-running promotion of matoke and coffee, as well as Rwanda’s branding around cleanliness, digital progress and coffee. It also points to high-profile Ankole cattle sales, including purchases linked to South African businessman and politician Cyril Ramaphosa and a reported record auction price for an Ankole cow in Zimbabwe in 2024, to show that the breed already has international appeal.

The author says Ankole should go beyond selling cattle mainly for meat and instead develop higher-value products such as tinned beef, steak, hides and horns. A recent pork market documentary in Bushenyi is used as an example of what the writer sees as a drift away from traditional identity. The core message is that the Ankole cow remains a powerful regional symbol, but its commercial and cultural potential is not yet being fully used.