The Butcher Association in Kampala has issued guidelines to its members in Kampala Metropolitan to ensure food quality and food safety control during the Christmas season.
Hajji Musa Senabulya, the chairman of the association has asked his members to remain professional and keep the consumers of the precious product safe from disease and cheating in terms of underweight meat.
In a press conference held in Kampala ahead of Christmas next week, Senabulya also asked all the butchers not to hike the price of beef saying that “the economy is not good to most of the customers.”
“We would like to call upon all butchers and veterinary officials irrespective of the town councils in greater Kampala to join hands to ensure that quality and food control is upheld,” he said
According to him professionalism and quality control start from the farm through the abattoir to the butchers hence calling upon butchers to be vigilant in this festive season when farmers sell their animals irrespective of their status.
For instance, he pointed out that some farmers tend to sell animals that are pregnant and those that are lactating which is not a good practice.
He urged cattle traders to ensure they obtain the required documents from relevant authorities regarding the health of animals and also ensure that they are transported in vehicles that do not violate their welfare.
In addition, the association has asked its members to buy meat from gazetted slaughterhouses where animals are checked by veterinary doctors before being slaughtered.
“Make sure all the meat carcass that leaves the abattoir is certified with official stamps,” Senabulya said.
He also warned the public from buying meat from makeshift butchers that always crop up during festive seasons saying that they can be a source of unsafe food and are also illegal.
He further thanked the government for its quick response towards the foot and mouth disease outbreak in the cattle districts of Sembabule and Kyotera which have been placed under quarantine.