Business 16 July 2026 Nile Post
Museveni Inaugurates NEC Meat Plant, Urging End to Military Ration Imports
President Yoweri Museveni has championed import substitution by opening a new Shs16 billion National Enterprise Corporation meat and beans processing plant in Gomba, emphasizing Uganda's potential to locally produce goods currently imported for military rations. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/356744/museveni-launches-nec-meat-plant-pushes-uganda-to-end-military-ration-imports
President Yoweri Museveni has underscored the importance of import substitution with the inauguration of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Meat and Beans Processing Plant in Gomba District. The Shs16 billion facility is set to bolster local production, particularly for military rations, thereby reducing Uganda’s reliance on foreign goods.
“The stimulus for production is the market. Once there is a market, we can organise Ugandans to produce,” President Museveni stated during the commissioning ceremony. He highlighted that Uganda possesses ample resources and a growing cattle population, capable of supporting large-scale meat processing industries. The nation’s cattle numbers have reportedly surged from approximately three million in 1986 to over 16 million, providing a substantial base for local manufacturing.
The new plant, a collaboration between NEC and private investor Francis Ragwa, will produce canned beef and beans for the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and other security agencies, with ambitions for regional export. This initiative aims to replace an estimated $2 million (Shs7 billion) spent annually on imported canned dry rations and reduce the UPDF’s annual fresh beef expenditure of around Shs42 billion. Lt Gen James Mugira, NEC Managing Director, noted that the plant’s capacity to slaughter 150 cattle daily offers a guaranteed market for organized livestock farmers and commercial ranchers.
While the plant represents a significant step towards industrialization and value addition, challenges such as unreliable electricity supply, leading to substantial generator costs, remain a concern. Furthermore, calls for enhanced livestock disease control and a national cattle traceability system were made to enable access to premium international beef markets. Investor Francis Ragwa sees potential in marketing Uganda’s indigenous Ankole cattle as a premium product.
Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka hailed the plant as a strategic asset that supports both national security and economic growth, pledging prioritizing local procurement. President Museveni also criticized government agencies for perceived delays in supporting strategic investments, urging for swifter facilitation of projects that drive industrial expansion and job creation.