Uganda Flags Off First Milk Powder Export to Algeria in Major Trade Milestone
Uganda has taken a significant step in enhancing its agricultural exports, with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially launching the country’s inaugural shipment of powdered milk to Algeria.
The initial consignment, comprising four containers with 500 metric tonnes of milk powder, is part of a larger delivery totaling 2,100 metric tonnes. The full shipment is valued at over $8 million.
The flag-off ceremony took place at State House Entebbe and was attended by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, led by Minister Frank Tumwebaze, along with executives from Brookside Limited—the company responsible for the export.
This export initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2023 during President Museveni’s state visit to Algeria. The agreement opened Algerian markets to Ugandan dairy and coffee products.
Minister Tumwebaze praised the milestone and congratulated both Brookside and the broader dairy sector for breaking into a valuable new market.
“Algeria is a market we’ve long pursued. One of the key outcomes of the President’s 2023 visit was the signing of an MoU granting us access for our coffee and milk products. I extend my congratulations to Brookside and the entire dairy sector, including our hardworking farmers, for this achievement,” Tumwebaze stated.
Brookside Africa Limited’s Director of Finance, Kennedy Gatheru, welcomed the breakthrough and emphasized its significance for future trade.
“This marks the beginning of many more opportunities,” he said. “We are grateful to President Museveni for his personal involvement in opening the Algerian market. With his continued support, we are optimistic about expanding our dairy exports.”
President Museveni also posed for photos with Brookside Africa representatives during the event, which Minister Tumwebaze also witnessed.
This export milestone follows a December 13, 2024, meeting at State Lodge Nakasero, where President Museveni hosted Algeria’s Foreign Minister and special envoy, Ahmed Attaf. The two leaders discussed deepening cooperation between their countries and reviewed progress on bilateral agreements.
Attaf expressed Algeria’s intent to shift a significant portion of its $700 million annual milk import budget toward Uganda, citing the superior quality of Uganda’s dairy products.
