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Since its founding in 1966, the Tooro Diary Cooperative Society Limited has been a vital force in Uganda’s agricultural landscape, particularly within the dairy sector.

Established by notable figures like Joseph R. Kairumba, Emmanuel R. Basaliza, Bateremeo Kakiiza, John Babiiha, and Olivia Kairumba, the society has stood as a cornerstone of community farming, carrying forward a legacy of agricultural progress.

Today, 58 years later, only one of its founding members, Mzee Basaliza, a retired veterinarian now 99 years old, remains alive.

His story exemplifies the pioneering spirit and resilience that has driven Uganda’s dairy industry forward. In 1966, Mzee Basaliza embarked on a transformative journey when he traveled to Naivasha, Kenya, to purchase his first exotic Friesian heifers.

To finance this ambitious venture, he sold his stock of local cattle and took out a loan from Barclays Bank. Transporting the cattle was no small feat—he moved them by East African Railways and Harbours (EAR&H) from Naivasha to Kasese and then by truck to Fort Portal.

This bold step was inspired by John Babiiha, then Vice President of Uganda, who would go on to import Friesian cattle from Canada in 1968. Their forward-thinking decisions underscored the innovative mindset of Uganda’s early dairy farmers, who saw modern farming techniques and improved livestock breeds as the path to a transformed dairy sector.

Since those early days, Basaliza’s family has maintained and built upon the model farm he established, contributing to Tooro Subregion’s status as one of Uganda’s dairy hubs. The region has since expanded beyond dairy to embrace modern farming practices and improved livestock management. Today, however, Tooro’s dairy farmers face a new challenge: adding value to their milk.

With the government’s recent decision to take a more active role through the Dairy Development Authority (DDA), farmers in Tooro see an opportunity to address longstanding issues in the industry.

“Value addition is essential,” says Rtd. Col. Steven Basaliza, a historical figure and former MP for Rurahya County. While milk production has grown, the lack of local processing facilities has hindered farmers from obtaining fair prices. They also urge the government to make dairy drugs more affordable, as rising costs have strained dairy farming.

Hon. Basaliza further suggests the government establish an agency to better regulate the industry, especially in terms of drug and acaricide standards, to support herd health and production quality.

Hon. Basaliza and other farmers are also advocating for the revival of deep tanks for livestock dipping, which have been neglected over the years. As the government steps up its involvement in the dairy sector, farmers view this as a vital measure to control disease and improve livestock health.

Additionally, Tooro’s farmers are calling for expanded artificial insemination services to improve cattle breeds and increase milk yields, believing these services would empower more farmers to produce high-quality milk and contribute to the region’s dairy output.

The establishment of large-scale farms, such as the Rubona Stock Farm, further spurred growth in the sector. Originally owned by Indian businessman Jafar Dasha, the farm was taken over by the government after Dasha’s expulsion in 1972, signaling the government’s commitment to professionalize the dairy industry.

By the late 1980s, Uganda’s dairy production was growing, though the industry was still developing its full potential.

President Yoweri Museveni has been a strong supporter of Uganda’s dairy sector, often citing the impressive rise in milk production under his administration. Reflecting on the past, Museveni recently criticized the Dairy Development Authority (DDA), arguing that they have overstated their role in the sector’s growth. “Before my interventions in 1966 and later in 1989, what was Uganda’s milk production? About 200 million litres a year. Today, it’s 5.3 billion litres,” the President remarked.

Museveni’s influence extends to efforts in attracting foreign investment for dairy processing. “One milk processor from Thailand withdrew when Margaret Muhanga made an irresponsible remark that the government sold the Bugolobi milk plant for USD 1,” he noted, referring to political controversies that briefly hampered investment. Nevertheless, Museveni managed to bring in SAMEER Agriculture and Livestock Limited, which established a powder milk processing plant, enabling Ugandan dairy products to reach international markets.

The President also acknowledged the early Ugandan dairy farmers who pioneered the use of exotic cattle breeds despite traditional beliefs about Friesian cattle’s complexity. Among these trailblazers were Mzee Mbiire of Kashaari, who managed a successful Friesian herd by 1963, and farmers across Bushenyi, Kashaari, Ibanda, Nyabushozi, and Kamuli. Together, these early adopters laid the foundation for Uganda’s expansive dairy network.

“These pioneers challenged the notion that local cattle keepers couldn’t handle exotic breeds,” Museveni stated. “Today, dairy farming is embraced by nearly all cattle keepers, transforming it into a national endeavor.”

The impact of these efforts is evident in the continued growth of Uganda’s dairy industry. The Tooro Cooperative Society and the foundational work of visionaries like Mzee Basaliza and John Babiiha stand as testaments to the dedication of Uganda’s farmers. Their pioneering contributions, coupled with government support, have established a dairy sector that now produces billions of litres of milk, driving economic benefits for communities across Uganda.