KISOZI/RWAKITURA – President Yoweri Museveni, one of the leading ranchers in Uganda says he sells 700 heads of cattle annually, from his two vast dairy farms, one in the south, and the other in the west of the country.
At his Kisozi Ranch, 165km south of Kampala, Mr. Museveni has over 6,000 heads of cattle, mainly of the Ankole breed.
At the weekend, Mr. Museveni, whose name was taken from the Abaseveni – the Ugandan servicemen in the Seventh Regiment of the King’s African Rifle, says was born in 1944 into a family of cattle keepers in Ankole, western Uganda.
While at his farms in Kisozi and Rwakitura, checking on his cattle Mr. Museveni detailed a few facts about some of the cows and also explained how he got them.
See full explanation:
Ekigoondo
This is ekigoondo herd mainly descended from Ruhaambwa ebitarira- side – burns- which was my mother’s ghee- cow (enchuundwa). Women were always given their nchuundwa’s on marriage. Those nchuundwas were used by the superstitious Banyankore to monitor the fortunes of the woman – whether she had omukono gw’okutuunga or not. Was she a lucky one or not? Omukaikuru Esteeri Kokundeka passed that test with flying colors because Ruhaambwa and the other nchuundwas were quite prolific.
Emikuuto
(PHOTO/PPU).
This is Emikuuto herd- the cattle with ebisa (cream- colour). The traditional Banyankore / Bahororo must be congratulated for maintaining the Saanga cattle ( empima) through the ages. The Saanga cattle are three types: enshuungye – the tall and big cattle with soft bodies; enkome – the smaller and sturdy cattle – ezigumire ; and the enigma- the short-horned, mountain cattle. Some of these cows were high – yielders in terms of milk. I salute the Banyankore/ Bahororo for defending this heritage of Africa. However, leaving this breeding to only peasants had created dangerous disorientation. The traditional cattle – keepers had gone off the point and started concentrating on the colour (bihogo – a type of what – brown or something like that- English is too poor to accurately describe) and the shape of the horns and forgotten completely the issue of milk – yield and size.
When I came from the Bush and I got my first herds from Mzee Kaguta, I rejected the prioritization of colour ahead of milk- yield and size. The latter came first; the former was secondary. I, therefore , sought after and preserved all colours: ebihuura, ebigabo, Obugoondo, ebireemba, ebisa etc etc. The herd in the picture is the emikuuto herd (the cream coloured ones).
Secretary-General [Kasule Lumumba] of the NRM making friendship with Rureemba. It is a massive bull. Prof. Katunguuka needs to weigh it with his magic belt. He had previously so weighed one of my bulls and it clocked 800kgs. As you can see, Rureemba is taller than our powerful Secretary-General.
Mr Museveni is driving behind Emisiina as they recrossed Katonga bridge after the dipping on Sembabule side.
The foundation herd at Rwakitura – the Enkoroogyi. Some are old having done their duty, at least, a dozen calvings.
