By Eriah Lule
According to the Tridge agri-food data and intelligence website, New Zealand was the top goat meat exporter in 2024.
Nowadays, Uganda Christian University (UCU) graduate John Lufafa is watching these statistics with a goal to bring Uganda up on the list with his adult goat meat, also known as chevon. He knows that goat loin is the most desired cut, followed by leg and shoulder.
He never started out to be a goat farmer, but now that he is, he wants to be the best.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown led to a closure of many income-generating activities, a gap that opened many people’s minds to the need for a sustainable source of income. At the same time, the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu famous quote “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” haunted Lufafa and drove his vision of goat farming. The years 2020 and 2021 were the perfect time to begin.
“Starting with just two goats, I realized the potential of livestock farming for long-term financial growth,” he said. “Goat farming has reinforced my belief that small and well-managed initiatives can grow into significant economic ventures.”
Lufafa, who now has 60 goats, focuses on scalability, reinvestment and sustainability. He shunned goat farming as just an immediate source of his livelihood.
“I noticed it as a long-term investment, growing the herd, improving breed quality and exploring better feeding and healthcare practices to maximize productivity,” he said.
The UCU graduate of a Bachelor of Development Studies in 2015 learned this process as a university student. The UCU course exposed him to principles of sustainable development, resource management and economic empowerment – all of which are essential in agriculture and livestock farming.
Lufafa ventured into local goats with a particular interest in Mubende goats that originated in Uganda and are known for their hardness and disease resistance. He also has the South African breed called Boer.
He has learned that selective breeding improves herd quality and productivity over time with regular veterinary check-ups for disease prevention and early detection. Additionally, proper nutrition with balanced feed and access to clean water helps to ensure sustainability and profitability.
In a media interview, the Rev. Associate Professor John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa emphasized UCU’s theme statement, A complete education for a complete person.
“We are determined to producing a graduate that can compete in all walks of life and be of great service to the community” he said “Our major aim isn’t educating our students but preparing them for the world ahead of them and how better to tackle it for better lives.”
Lufafa affirmed that the university shaped his perspective on sustainability, economic empowerment and self-reliance. Through coursework and field experiences, he gained a deeper understanding of how small-scale enterprises can create lasting impact, especially in rural communities.
He acknowledges value addition, market linkages and community-based development as some of the factors that have influenced how he has managed to grow from two goats in 2020 to 60 goats in 2025 on his farm in Iganga District in the eastern part of the country.
Lufafa, 35, is the first born of five children of Duncan and Justine Lufafa of Jinja District in the eastern part of the country. The goat farmer and his wife, Nakidde Patience, have two children.
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