August 3, 2007

Botswana firm to set up beef plant in Uganda

A beef company from Botswana will construct a beef factory in Uganda, according to Ugandan Economic Monitoring minister Maurice Kagimu Kiwanuka.

Kiwanuka said the GRM Group would set up the factory worth US$30 million either in Kampala, Masaka or Karamoja depending on the results of feasibility study.

He said they have already identified an investor who is going to partner with the government to set the plant.

Kiwanuka lauded Botswana's feat in cattle as the country, despite being a desert country has 2.2 million cattle and the largest exporter of meat to Europe. Uganda has seven million cattle, he said.

Once the facility is built, Kiwanuka said Uganda would join Botswana in meeting the demand for meat in Europe.

Kiwanuka said an investor had also been identified to utilise the redundant Sango Bay. The government will give out 243 square miles of land for the plant.