Widely regarded as the grandfather of the dairy industry in Uganda, he saw its birth starting in 1968 after then Vice President John Babiiha brought the first Frisian breeds for Ugandan farmers. He lived through the worst years of milk scarcity presiding over “reconstituted imported powder mixed with water and butter”. This was so Uganda could make milk for commercial sales under the Uganda Dairy Corporation. He began the distribution of both milk transport tankers along with chill tanks in southwest and central Uganda at the end of the 1980s, kicking off what we have today an industry with 5 billion liters and more than USD200m in exports. With more than 56 years in the industry, he is still working hard to exploit external markets with young people to drive the boundaries of the Ugandan dairy industry.

His name is Mzee Robert Walimba and he is 78 years this year. The lesson he gives us is that consistency and discipline always pay and helps many who might not see what we are doing!