Officials from Central Equatoria State’s Departments of Public Order, Public Health, and Animal Resources and Fisheries conducted a joint inspection on Monday across butcheries in Rajaf Payam, Juba County.
The operation follows a reported rise in gout and other health complications allegedly linked to poor meat handling and unhygienic practices at local slaughter points.
The operation focused on hygiene compliance and regulatory enforcement, with authorities determined to tighten oversight of meat processing and distribution.
Samuel Pitia Wani, Director of Public Order in Juba County, urged all unlicensed butchery operators to legalize their businesses by reporting to the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries or the County Authority.
“We suspect that improperly handled meat may be contributing to the spike in gout,” Wani told reporters during the inspection. “All meat processors must be medically fit, and anyone without a fitness card should report for examination immediately.”
Wani also pushed for consistent registration and periodic inspections of butcheries to protect public health.
Abdulwahab Abraham, Deputy Director of Rajaf Payam, noted that hygiene standards among local butcheries had improved since earlier in the year.
“There’s been substantial progress in cleanliness. Practices that posed risks have declined, and our administration is committed to maintaining that momentum,” he said.
Despite improvements, transport safety remains a concern. Angelo Wani, Chairperson of the Butchers Union in Central Equatoria State, criticized the ongoing use of motorcycles, boda bodas, to ferry meat, a method banned for its exposure risks.
“Meat must be transported in covered vehicles, not on motorcycles that expose it to dust and contaminants,” he emphasized. “I call on security forces to enforce the ban and arrest violators.”
With hygiene reform underway and enforcement on the rise, the inspection signals a growing push to safeguard public health and ensure the meat on Juba’s tables is clean, legal, and safe.
