The National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC-DB) is seeking additional funds worth UGX75Billion to establish piggery breeding centres, poultry and fish hatcheries in four regions so as to boost the production of pork, chicken and fish in Uganda.
The request was made by Linda Auma, Chairperson, Parliament’s Agriculture Committee during the presentation of the report on the 2026/27 Ministerial Policy Statement for the Agriculture sector in April 2026, where she revealed that the project will also involve the establishment of mini animal feed processing plants on government ranches at Aswa, Maruzi, and Nshaara yet no funds have been allocated to this project.
Auma noted, “Where public breeding and hatchery infrastructure is absent, PDM livestock enterprises and smallholder farmers source breeding stock, fingerlings, and chicks from private markets at prices and on terms that are not always transparent or competitive. The establishment of publicly operated facilities at regional and sub-regional level would expand supply, introduce a reference price in the market, and reduce the input cost burden for PDM SACCOs.”
She further added that in areas where animal feed processing plants are absent from government ranches, the cost of feed which represents the largest operating expense in most livestock enterprises remains a constraint on enterprise viability.
The Committee recommended that: UGX32Billion is allocated for piggery breeding centres in 4 regions. UGX 23 billion is allocated for poultry and fish hatcheries in Kigezi, Tooro, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions; and UGX20Billion is allocated for mini animal feed processing plants on government ranches at Aswa, Maruzi, and Nshaarara.”
Parliament also called on Government to increase funding towards breed multiplication and restocking at NAGRC after the Committee revealed that the demand for improved genetic materials from both smallholder PDM enterprises and commercial farmers has grown in line with the expansion of livestock programmes under the Agro-industrialization Programme.
Auma explained, “Where breeding centre capacity is below the level required to meet this demand, the shortfall is met either through private sector channels at higher cost or goes unmet, limiting productivity outcomes for enterprise-based livestock beneficiaries. The two-year period during which Vote 125 received no nominai increase means that breeding centres have been operating against a backdrop of inflation without a corresponding adjustment in their operational budget.”
Now, MPs want Government to ensure that there is restocking, multiplication, and distribution of improved breeds and also ensure that all breeding centres are fully operationalized
In the 2026/27 national budget, NAGRC-DB has been allocated UGX11.189Bn up from the UGX76.48Billion as approved in FY2025.26. The UGX35Bn increment is additional funds have been ring-fenced for Establishment of livestock breeding centres in piggery breeding in Eastern, Central, Western and Northern regions, and the establishment of poultry and fish hatcheries in Kigezi, Tooro, Lango and Acholi.
