New milk vending machines are being tested in Uganda’s capital ,Kampala, with the aim of making the product cheaper and more accessible. Many people are flocking to the new dispensing points to purchase milk, which comes already pasteurized.
“This milk vending machine allows consumers to purchase any quantity of milk at any time of day. Consumers say they can now access milk without paying extra costs for packaging.” Hillary Ayesiga, Kampala, Uganda
Uganda has a deep rooted milk culture with many cattle keeping communities going to the countryside. Many go direct to farms to buy unpasteurized milk before boiling it at home. It is in the city that the Milk Machine allows people to buy milk in small quantities, unlike in shops .
Owners of the Milk Machine say they want to tap on the big market for milk and make it more accessible. However, critics say to run the machines, the company must invest heavily in standby power generators. This is mainly because Uganda still faces a challenge of power shortage.
So far three machines have been rolled out, but operators hope the service will expand to meet the growing demand countrywide. Government statistics show that Uganda produces about 1.6 billion liter’s of milk annually. The Milk Machine owners hope the convenience means demand will rise as more Ugandans quench their thirst at their closest milk points.
