KAMPALA–The City Hall Court Magistrate, Beatrice Kayinza, on Friday remanded seven butchers, operating in city markets, to Luzira Prison, for allegedly using chemicals to preserve meat at their butcher shops.
The butchers who were remanded to Luzira include Erias Katumba Isa Senoga, Mpererwe, Isma Mutebi Umar Kalyango,akasero Bakka Mulondo and Ibrahim Ssekate.
The State prosecutor is accusing the butchers of using chemicals used to preserve dead bodies on the meat in addition to operating very insanitary butcheries. The accused are expected to appear before court again on January 10 (Wednesday) to be sentenced.
In its routine inspection, KCCA Public Health Team and KCCA enforcement officers, found a number of butcher shops in Nakasero, Mpelerwe and Nalukolongo markets in unhygienic conditions. This prompted KCCA to close off and arrest several butchers.
The operation which is being carried out in the city markets, aims at maintaining minimum health standards within the business. Several meat traders were also arrested during the operation.
According to Dr Emilian Ahimbisibwe, KCCA supervisor of Animal Production, the authority launched a crackdown on butchers that fall short of minimum standards to enable city dwellers obtain safe meat.
Health experts like Dr. Peter Bukenya of Nagalama Hospital said some Ugandans go to treat typhoid not knowing that they are suffering from brucellosis, an ailment caused by eating dead meat.
“People get brucellosis when they come into contact with contaminated animals or animal products,” Bukenya explained.
