The state minister for Animal Industry, Lt Col. Bright Rwamirama, has urged agricultural manufacturers to prioritise quality if they are to maximise profits and compete favourably in international markets.
Speaking at the 30th anniversary celebrations of ERAM Uganda Ltd, held at the company’s new headquarters on Hoima Road, Bakuli, Rwamirama praised ERAM for its contribution to Uganda’s livestock sector, noting that its innovations in animal health helped boost national milk production from 150,000 litres a day in 1986 to over 4 million litres today.
He said that through sustained investment in animal health solutions, ERAM had played a key role in transforming Uganda’s livestock productivity and enabling the country to stop importing powdered and condensed milk for the local market.
“ERAM’s continued investment in manufacturing and product diversification demonstrates confidence in our economy,” Rwamirama said. “This aligns with the Parish Development Model and the industrialisation strategy, which encourages private-sector participation in building a sustainable agricultural economy.”
The minister commended ERAM’s value addition initiatives, saying they had not only created jobs but also opened up reliable markets for local farmers, helping the government’s agenda of moving more Ugandans into the money economy.
Rwamirama further challenged other players in the agricultural value chain to emulate ERAM by embracing quality, technology, and environmental sustainability. He noted that the government had addressed one of the sector’s biggest constraints – limited access to affordable capital through a new credit facility managed by the Bank of Uganda and the ministry.
He also called for greater investment in value addition and processing across all agricultural sub-sectors, arguing that this would increase both profitability and competitiveness.
ERAM marks 30 years of growth
Founded in 1995 by Edward Muhigirwa, Dr Alice Hope Banga, and Dr Richard Mucunguzi, ERAM began as a small veterinary shop in Container Village, downtown Kampala, before growing into one of Uganda’s leading providers of animal health products.
Muhigirwa described the anniversary as a celebration of “a shared journey of resilience and partnership” across the agricultural value chain. He said the company had grown from six employees to 80 staff, attributing its success to consistency, integrity, and a deep commitment to the livestock sector.
“The liberalisation of the economy in the 1990s created gaps, as the government was the sole supplier of veterinary drugs. We stepped in to fill that gap,” he said.
“ERAM has grown into a trusted national brand supporting farmers across Uganda. We have walked this road with perseverance and a firm belief in the transformative power of animal health.”
Over the years, ERAM, Muhigirwa said has built partnerships with global manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, veterinarians, local financiers, and farmers. Muhigirwa revealed that the company is setting up a one-stop centre in Namanve to provide integrated animal health solutions.
Dr Alice Hope Banga, one of the company’s founders, said ERAM remains committed to promoting animal health through partnerships and training programs aimed at strengthening veterinary and pharmaceutical knowledge across Uganda.
She noted that ERAM has played a critical role in the government’s recent efforts to eliminate tick infestations that had threatened the livestock industry.
“ERAM will continue to lead in delivering innovative animal health and pharmaceutical care solutions,” Dr Banga said.
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