The detained butchers allegedly used chemicals used on dead bodies to preserve meat. File photo.
KAMPALA–Health officials of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) yesterday (Monday) clashed with Uganda butchers’ Association over the safety of the meat sold to city dwellers.
At the meeting called to forge a way forward, KCCA health officials led by Dr Emilian Ahimbisibwe, KCCA supervisor of Animal Production, said they will not allow butchers sell meat, unless it is first tested in laboratories and proved safe for human consumption.
But the warning did not go well with the butchers who complained that subjecting their meat to checks will make them incur additional costs.
“This is done to push us out of the business, but we shall not accept,”said Abbey Mugumba, chairman of meat traders at City Abattoir, located along Old Port bell Road.
Since last week, KCCA launched a crack down on butchers selling what it termed unsafe meat, an operation that butchers say has affected their business.
“The public now fears to buy the beef because KCCA announced last week that some meat on the market is not safe.They fear brucellosis to attack them,” Ali Nsubuga, a butcher operating in Ndeeba, a city suburb, said.
Nsubuga added that most of his customers told him that they have now switched on eating pork or fish, a move which many meat traders said will force them to close their businesses.
KCCA in an operation conducted last week, closed several butcher shops in Nakasero, Mpelerwe and Nalukolongo over poor hygiene and using wrong chemicals to preserve meat. Several meat traders were also arrested during the operation and are currently on remand.
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