Residents of Rwamagana District have decried the state of hygiene at Nyarusange Abattoir, which supplies most of the meat sold in Rwamagana town. 

The abattoir, built 29 years ago, is in dire need of renovation and expansion.

Clean water sources are far fewer than those needed and drainage channels are often clogged with cow dung and rotting blood. The entire facility is overwhelmed with dirt, residents say.

In separate interviews with The New Times, yesterday, residents said most of the meat sold in the town is contaminated because of the poor hygienic conditions of abattoirs.

Manaseh Dusenge, a meat dealer, said people were at a high risk of contracting diseases from meat, adding that many abattoirs operate in poor hygienic conditions, unprotected against flies and dust.

Dusenge, who is also a member of a meat dealers cooperative known as ‘Dufatanye Kwizamura’, said they requested the district to rehabilitate many unhygienic abattoirs, but the authorities are yet to take action.

"We rent this abattoir, but you can see it is in a sorry state. The district that owns it has not lived to its promise to maintain it. You can see meat is on the floor, the hygiene level is substandard, yet we pay rent and other charges in time. It’s high time this changed, otherwise, consumers remain at the risk of contracting diseases,” he said.

Dusenge added that although distributers try to wash meat properly before it is sold, he couldn’t guarantee it happens to all meat in the abattoir.

"The abattoir was built in early 1980s. Authorities should give it a priority; the issue has been pending for long. We need a cold room for instance,” he said.

Desire Uwimana, a teacher, said he had no idea what the risks to his life were from consumption of the meat from the abattoir.

He called for action from the local authorities to protect buyers.

"If what I have heard is true, immediate action is needed. We buy meat in butcheries and can’t know what goes on in abattoirs. We have a right to protection,” Uwimana said.

Similar poor conditions of abattoirs are evident in neighbouring Kayonza District, where only a small makeshift structure is used as a town abattoir.

Jean de Dieu Niyitanga, the Rwamagana District veterinary officer, acknowledged that the abattoirs were not up to standard, but said plans were underway to construct a modern abattoir to serve the residents better.

"It is true the abattoirs are in bad shape, we are, however, planning to put up a big facility that will serve the entire district. Meanwhile, we plan to renovate the existing abattoirs soon through a private or private-public partnership project,” he said.

Thierry Mugiraneza, the director of planning Kayonza District, said the government was encouraging investors to start up a meat processing plant in the district.

"The district has no modern abattoir, but we are working toward a sustainable solution. Kayonza meat processing plant is in pipeline, it will offer meaningful services to residents. It is an over Rwf1 billion project that will have, among others, modern abattoirs,” he said.

By 2013, the two districts had a population of more than 100,000 cows.

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