RONALDO N
Butchers at Rukungiri Central Market are facing reduced sales as the ongoing Lent period lowers demand for meat. Many Christians, particularly Catholics, abstain from eating meat on certain days during this season, a practice that has directly affected the market.
Speaking to our reporter, Siragi Mayanja, a local butcher, explained that the fasting period has significantly slowed customer turnout. “During Lent, many of our regular customers avoid meat, which has impacted daily sales,” he said.
Mayanja also noted that a slight increase in beef prices, from 15,000 to 16,000 Ugandan shillings per kilogram, may have further discouraged purchases.
Similarly, fellow butcher Robert Kashabe said that before Lent, they would slaughter and sell meat from five cows in a single day. “Now we slaughter only two to three cows and still struggle to find buyers,” he added.
Despite the current slump, vendors remain hopeful that meat demand will pick up as Lent comes to an end and the Easter holidays approach.
