Ugandan traders recently asked the government to take retaliatory measures against Kenya over alleged ill-treatment and injury to investment.
However, before the storm could settle, Lato Butter, a product exported from Uganda, made it to the highest dining table in the land – a State Banquet organized to honour King Charles and Queen Camilla currently on State Visit in Kenya.
“Lato is good quality. I hope it can take over the East African market,” commented David on social media through X.
Duncan Abigaba, a social media activist, wrote: “Uganda’s Lato butter served at #StateBanquet in honour of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their visit to Kenya. Sanga people might stop greeting us, because Omugabe (king) ate their butter.” Sanga is a small town in western Uganda where the factory which makes Lato is established.
Lato is a dairy brand in East Africa with both local and overseas markets and have a wide range of dairy products. These include; yoghurt, powdered milk, juice, porridge, flavoured milk, infant cereal, butter, ghee and formula among others.
Currently, there is a stand-off between Uganda and Kenya with the latter banning importation of powdered milk from the former.
Kenya’s president William Ruto said the ban was necessary to protect local farmers.
He said: “We have stopped the importation of milk from the neighbouring countries for companies that are processing powdered milk instead of buying from farmers.”
“Some companies, here in Kenya, after realizing we have banned powdered milk went to Uganda where they imported the powder, processed it into milk and sought to access the Kenyan Market. That is why we banned them,” Ruto added.
But this has not gone down well with the Ugandan community who insist more products have been banned by Kenya.
Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) called for retaliation saying the diplomatic way has failed.
“Our very blunt demand as manufacturers is there should be a retaliatory measure, because we cannot be in a marriage where you cannot enter some bedrooms. Every time we speak about mistreatment of Uganda, government is in un-ending engagements with Nairobi and other capitals,” said Richard Mubiru, Executive Director, UMA.
“Since there is no level of dialogue that has offered better results for Uganda, the private sector cannot survive in an environment of diplomatic appeasement that is seriously injuring investments,” he told Members of Parliament on October 26.
