Ntungamo Milk Production Falls by More Than Half as Drought, FMD Bite

What the report says

Milk production in Ntungamo District, in southwestern Uganda, has dropped by more than half as prolonged drought and Foot-and-Mouth Disease squeeze cattle herds and disrupt dairy marketing, according to Nile Post. Local officials said daily output has fallen to roughly 35,000 to 45,000 litres, compared with as much as 90,000 litres in the rainy season, leaving processors, collection centres and traders competing for limited supplies.

The report says the decline is being driven by depleted pasture and water sources, alongside an FMD outbreak that has affected livestock for months. Ntungamo District Production Officer Dr. Yake Basulila said infected animals are producing less milk, while dairy farmers’ cooperative leaders linked the slump to a prolonged dry spell between April and August. During the outbreak period, authorities also restricted livestock movement and sales to help contain the disease, which limited farmers’ access to markets.

The shortage has pushed farm-gate prices higher, with stakeholders saying farmers are now receiving about Shs1,200 to Shs1,400 per litre after the quarantine was lifted this week. Traders said milk is harder to source and operations are being slowed by low volumes. Dairy farming remains a major livelihood in the district, supporting many actors across the value chain.

Nile Post places the Ntungamo situation within a broader supply squeeze across western Uganda’s dairy belt. Similar production declines have recently been reported in Mbarara City, underscoring concerns about the resilience of milk supplies and the need for better animal disease control, feed access and water management.