For years, most Ugandan dairy farmers have relied on hand milking, slow, tiring, and often unhygienic. But as commercial farming expands, a quiet revolution is emerging, machine milking.
Sabastian Ngambwa, a commercial dairy farmer in Zirobwe, Luwero district, is one of the Ugandans who have embraced milking machines.
“I used to milk ten cows by hand with two workers, and it took over two hours. With a portable milking machine, I now handle more cows in 45 minutes, with just one person,” he says.
The shift is not just about saving time.
According to Peter Mubiru, a veterinary doctor, machine milking reduces the risk of mastitis and contamination.
“Milking machines create a closed, cleaner system. The milk goes straight into sterile containers, unlike hand milking, which often exposes it to dust, dirty hands, and flies,” he says.
Martin Kintu, another commercial farmer, explains that after investing in a simple system, his milk yield increased.
“Cows are calmer during machine milking, and you get complete let-down, which improves milk quantity and quality,” he notes.
Though a basic milking machine setup can cost between sh5 million to sh20 million, the long-term benefits outweigh the cost. Labour expenses drop, milk rejection due to contamination reduces, and farmers gain access to higher-paying markets that demand hygienic milk.
