About 1,520 cows, 400 goats, 40 sheep and 145 pigs were slaughtered by Saturday for consumption of this Christmas season in the Ugandan capital city, according to local press on Sunday.

Chairman of BHS City Abattoirs Hajji Mutumba Lule was quoted as saying that the number was however lower than that of last Christmas.

Lule attributed it to a prolonged drought that had recently hit the cattle corridor, saying that since the animals were lean, many farmers could not sell them to traders.

He said about 80 percent of the animals sold to the city were from Mbarara and Kiruhura districts.

Meanwhile, over 40,500 chicken and 1,500 turkeys were sold in several markets by noon Saturday.

Christmas and following day, the Boxing Day are public holidays in Uganda.

The cost of beef ranged from 2,800 shillings and 3,500 shillings (1.56-1.95 US dollars) per kg in most butchery in the capital city.

The cost of local breed bird ranged between 5,500 shilling and 14,000 shillings (3.06-7.78 dollars) while imported broilers went for between 4,500 shilling and 7,000 shillings (2.50-3.89 dollars) per bird.

The price of a turkey ranged between 15,000 shillings and 45, 000 shillings (8.34-25.00 dollars) while a kg of pork fluctuated between 3,000 shillings and 4,500 shillings (1.67-2.50 dollars).

Source: Xinhua