Beef consumption drops in Jinja
Beef consumption has dropped in Jinja. FILE PHOTO
JINJA. The consumption of beef across various butchers and abattoirs in Jinja Municipality has reduced following fears that formalin could be used to preserve the meat, a Daily Monitor survey reveals.
Formalin is a liquid drug used in the preservation of dead tissue by killing the bacterium that causes decay.
Recently, Joseph Kayondo, a fishmonger and Willy Ssekabira, a butcher, both residents of Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb, were arrested and pleaded guilty to spraying ‘unidentified chemicals’ on their fish and meat to kill flies.
According to Jinja Cattle Traders and Butchers Association chairperson, Mr Chrysostom Kagolo Mukiibi, “There is a low demand for meat after news of some butchers using formalin went viral in the media and across social media platforms.”
Mr Mukiibi said the number of cattle slaughtered has reduced compared to the period before the information on formalin spread.
“People now fear to buy meat because they think it contains formalin. We used to slaughter between 15 and 20 cows per day at Jinja Municipality Abattoir. But the number has now reduced to between 13 and 15 cows, while goats have reduced from 30 to between 18 and 20 per day,’’ he said.
Mr Mukiibi added that in the meeting recently attended by 200 butchers; they unanimously resolved that all butchery must only be composed of meat, a panga and enough lighting to ward off suspicion of possessing medicine such as formalin.
The chairperson of meat, chicken and offals department in Jinja Central Market, Mr Majid Mpoya, said since news of formalin was released, consumers who buy meat from their stalls have since reduced.
Ms Amina Tibilwamu, another meat dealer at Jinja Central Market, said customers have dropped.
To counter that, she has to explain to the few that come that her meat is drug-free.
“The situation has forced us to reduce on the price of meat from Shs10,000 to between Shs8,500 to Shs9,000 per Kilogramme.
