Abattoir odour triggers protests from residents

Facility. A section of the dilapidated Masaka District abattoir in Karumba Village on Monday. PHOTO BY IVAN KIMBOWA

What you need to know:

  • When this reporter visited the area on Monday after a downpour, the entire place was smelling because of the uncollected dung and pool of blood that amasses in the potholed slaughter house floor.
  • Outside the slaughter house lies an uncovered small channel where water flows to the two open lagoons dug at the place.
  • Close to the lagoons, in a distance of almost 30 metres, there are two dilapidated stinking dirty pit- latrines.

Masaka. A section of residents in Kirumba Village, Katwe/Butego Division, Masaka Municipality, who are neighbouring the district abattoir, have asked authorities to close the facility for operating under filthy conditions.

The abattoir, which sits on one-acre piece of land, serves Masaka District and parts of Kalungu, Kyotera and Lwengo districts.
Mr George William Kivumbi, the chairperson of Kirumba-Katwe Village, in an interview on Monday said the abattoir stinks due to uncollected animal dung and improper disposal of blood from the slaughtered animals.
He said during rainy season, runoff water mixes with animal wastes and runs into people’s houses.

“We urge municipal authorities to close the abattoir until they rehabilitate the place and also improve sanitation,” he said.
Mr Kivumbi also questioned the quality of meat slaughtered at the abattoir, saying it is poorly examined by the veterinary doctor who at times absconds from duty.

“In the past, the veterinary doctors used to reside at the abattoir, whose houses are currently used to keep horns. They could recommend that infected meat be burnt, but these days, when we are faced with various cattle diseases, meat is sometimes sold without being inspected,” he said.
Ms Rose Nanteza, a resident, said when dirty water from the abattoir floods into their houses, they are forced to abandon them because of the stench.
“When it rains, the whole place stinks and you cannot eat food in such an environment,” Ms Nanteza.

Mr Augustine Walugembe, the abattoir committee chairperson, said they have on several occasions informed both the district and municipal authorities about the poor state of the abattoir in vain.
“The place is in a terrible state, it needs serious face-lift which the municipality has failed to do. A lot of detergents and water are used in cleaning the slaughter house floor which has developed cracks,” he said.
He, however, attributed the bad smell to the many piggery farms around the area whose sties are not properly cleaned.

According to Mr Walugembe, on average, they slaughter 13 cows a day and much of the meat is sold in butcheries around Masaka Town and neighbouring districts. However, during festive seasons such as Christmas and Idd, the number of animals slaughtered goes up to 200.
Mr Kivumbi explained that the abattoir used to have deep freezers and refrigerators where meat could be kept safely and examined by the veterinary doctor before it is taken back to market the following day, but all these facilities are no longer in place.

Mr Musa Mabeli, the municipal health inspector, said they have advised management about the abattoir to ensure cleanness after slaughtering animals as they look for funds to refurbish the facility.
But Mr Godfrey Kayemba Afaayo, the mayor, said since they have limited funds, priority is going to be given to construction of poor roads in Nyendo/Ssenyange Division.
“The decision we took was to construct roads in Nyendo first. For the abattoir, we shall use the little local revenue we got to prevent water from flooding into people’s houses,” Mr Kayemba said
He said Shs30m has been earmarked for carrying out minor repairs on the abattoir.