Meat-processing business started in Arua

When Peter Jurua started roasting pork for sale in 1998 little did he know that one day the demand for his products would make him venture into sausage-making business in Arua.

Before that, there were no sausages available in the town unless they were brought in from Kampala, so Jurua developed the idea to start the business.

He has employed seven youths who received training on how to handle meat and acquired some of the equipment from the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI).

Challenges
Among the types of meat processed at the plant include bacon, sausages, minced meat and some chicken products.

However, availability of power is a major challenge that is affecting the business, which relies on the supply of electricity.

“I am frustrated because I have the capacity to handle all types of meat, create employment and market for our animals but here I am still waiting for the power connection since I applied for it,” Jurua adds.

Despite commissioning of a 3.5MW power dam at Nyagak last year for West Nile region, it is still difficult to access to supply from there by potential investors outside the Arua municipality.

“To make matter worse for me, the cost of an electric pole for an individual is about Shs 1.5 million depending on the location of the grid line which determines how many poles one buys. And for heavy consumers like me, I will be required to contribute for transformers too,” he added.

The other likely challenge Jurua may face in his quest to engage in a large-scale meat packaging will be lack of commercial livestock farmers. “People call me from all over the region to place their orders, the hotels and restaurants also place their orders for the processed meat,” Jurua said.

His future plans also include extending into the South Sudan market, where a number of his customers are based.

features@ug.nationmedia.com