The West Nile Livestock Traders Association has launched a mandatory registration exercise for all individuals and businesses involved in the livestock trade in a move aimed at streamlining the sector and curbing illegal cross-border trade.
Association leaders say the exercise is intended to promote orderly livestock trade between West Nile and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), improve compliance with animal movement regulations and strengthen disease control measures.
Trade in cattle, goats, sheep and pigs has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven largely by strong demand from eastern DRC, where livestock prices can reach as high as two million shillings, compared to purchase prices ranging between 800,000 and 1000,000 million shillings in Uganda’s Teso and Lango sub-regions.
The lucrative business has attracted many new traders who buy livestock from Soroti, Katakwi, Kaberamaido, Lango and parts of Acholi before transporting the animals to West Nile for sale to Congolese buyers. However, according to the association, the growing trade has also been accompanied by widespread non-compliance with regulations.
Some traders have allegedly been transporting livestock into the DRC in violation of Ebola prevention measures, while others keep animals roaming along the Uganda-DRC border as they wait for buyers.
Speaking during a press briefing in Arua yesterday, the Chairperson of the West Nile Livestock Traders Association, Patrick Okiror Rosea, said the registration exercise will help identify legitimate traders, reduce livestock theft and promote lawful trade.
By URN
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