Leading farmer-owned dairy.
A leading farmer-owned provider of high quality dairy products and services in the East African region.
Who we are
Rooted in Ankole.
Rooted in Ankole.
Run by farmers.
UCCCU is an indigenous, farmer-owned cooperative union. We exist to help dairy farming families organise, produce better milk and earn more from it, together.
01 Our story
Two decades of organised farmers, shared infrastructure and patient institution-building.
An indigenous venture, owned by the people who milk the cows.
Uganda Crane Creameries Cooperative Union Ltd was established in 2005 and registered under the 1991 Cooperative Union Act, registration number 7231/RCS, by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
We are an umbrella cooperative union bringing together 140 constituent primary cooperative societies in sixteen districts of South Western Uganda, with a total individual membership of over 20,000 dairy farmers.
Each primary cooperative operates a business hub with at least one milk collection centre. These centres are more than places to deliver milk: they are focal points for the services members need, including animal health, inputs, training and access to markets.
The union is governed by an elected board of directors and is accountable to its farmer members. Our governance strategy is built on cooperation and shared responsibility.
A farmer-owned union is not a slogan. It is a structure, one member, one vote, and a board answerable to the people who fill the cans.
02 Vision & mission
A clear direction, held in common.
Our vision and mission are agreed by the members and carried by the board, management and cooperative leadership.
A vibrant dairy sector.
To develop a vibrant dairy sector that improves the livelihoods of dairy farmers through increased incomes, modern farming, technological development, safe high-quality products and wider markets.
03 Governance
Accountable to the members who own us.
UCCCU is governed by an elected board of directors and accountable to its farmer members. Primary cooperatives hold the union; members hold the cooperatives. Decisions move upward, not downward.
- Elected leadershipA board of directors drawn from and answerable to member cooperatives.
- Cooperative principlesOne member, one vote, regardless of the size of the farm or the herd.
- Shared responsibilityGovernance is a partnership between the union, the primary societies and their members.
- A business arm for the futureThe proposed processing plant will be operated by an incorporated business wholly owned by UCCCU.
04 Our objectives
Eight commitments to members.
The union's objectives are practical: better skills, better animals, better businesses and better access to the things a farm needs.
01
Build the capacity of farmers in milk handling, collection, processing and marketing.
02
Mobilise farmers into cooperatives for the collective marketing of dairy products.
03
Improve the quality of dairy animals through better breeding and animal health.
04
Train farmers to run their farms commercially, with sound records and clear margins.
05
Carry out market research and development on behalf of member cooperatives.
06
Purchase drugs, feeds and other production inputs cooperatively for members.
07
Encourage a saving culture among members for stronger household resilience.
08
Help farmers access credit for productive purposes and the security of their enterprises.
05 Milestones
Two decades of building.
A union is built one institution, one cooler and one trained member at a time.
2005
UCCCU is established and registered under the 1991 Cooperative Union Act, Reg. No. 7231/RCS.
2021
The animal diagnostic laboratory opens in Mbarara with the Zoetis ALPHA initiative.
2024
Over 7,000 samples tested and 420 veterinary professionals trained across ten districts.
Next
A farmer-owned processing plant, wholly owned by UCCCU, to capture more value locally.
Work with us
The next chapter is farmer-owned.
We are building a processing plant owned by the farmers who supply it, capturing more value, creating more opportunity and keeping dairy local.