The Dairy Technology Department is one of the four departments under UIRI’s Food Science and Technology Division. It was set up as a research, training and technology development center geared towards addressing the needs of the dairy processing industry that involves process development, quality up-gradation, cost reduction, value addition and product diversification.

The department offers opportunities to micro and small scale dairy processors, students and other stakeholders to gain knowledge, expertise and facilities available. As part of the department’s activities, there is increased production of skilled manpower, increased investment, job creation, reduction in wastage of raw materials, improved safety, quality and competitiveness of Uganda’s dairy products.

 

Developed Products in the Department

Type of product	Status/ brief description	Future developments/plans
Mixed fruit yoghurt	The product is under the R&D phase. Natural fresh fruits are used in comparison to the imported commercialized fruit concentrates.	Complete R&D , conduct test marketing and commercialize the product
Soy milk beverage	Under product development stage, different entrepreneurs have been trained in the processing of this product. the objective of developing this product is to have a substitute to cow’s milk and encourage its consumption as infant formula for lactose intolerant people	Complete R & D and train more up coming entrepreneurs in the home based processing of the product
Honey Sweetened yoghurt	The R & D phase and labeling is complete, internal test marketing has been conducted.	Recommended for commercialisation
Probiotic yoghurts	R & D activities are on-going, UIRI has signed a collaboration with Yoba for Life foundation to develop more Probiotics using other strains of Probiotic cultures	Developing different Probiotic products including yoghurt, whey drinks from bi products of cheese processing Sensitization of the public on the health benefits of consuming these products hence improving on the consumption patterns of Probiotic drinks
Meeh Goat Milk	The product is produced by one of the in-house incubatees in the dairy section. It has under gone the product development and process standardisation phases, as well as the necessary analyses required. Meeh is pasteurized milk, processed from fresh farm goat milk, very nutritious especially for infants	Developing more dairy products like yoghurt and cheese from Goat milk Increasing public awareness on the health benefits of this product Improve on the product packaging Pasteurized Goat milk is currently being test Marketed in supermarkets around Kampala
Improved packaging for yoghurt	Skewed to the market demands the Uganda Industrial Research Institute has promoted the application of sachets for the average consumer as well as bottles and cups to ease consumers handling.	Obtaining new market niches interested in a type of packaging for stirred yoghurt. Adopting improved flavours and colours especially natural types.