Uganda focuses investment on hides and skins
The Ugandan government wants more shoes to be produced locally from readily available hides and skins in the country.
Figures from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics show that Uganda has the potential to produce 1.4 million cattle hides, 3.1 million goatskins and 680,000 sheepskins, however, collection rates currently average at 1.2 million hides, 2.4 million goat skins and 0.54 million sheep skins.
Most of the hides and skins produced are exported in raw or semi-processed form. Out of the five major tanning industries, it’s only the Jinja-based Leather Industries of Uganda that processes hides and skins up to finished stage – ready for use in the local market.
The chairman of the Uganda Leather and Allied Industries Association, Mr Emmanuel Mwebe, attributes this to exportation of raw hides and skins, coupled with poor flaying methods in abattoirs and poor management of hides and skins resulting into wastage.
The government is looking to attract external investors into the sector to add value to the hides and skins before export and also produce more leather goods within the country.
Speaking before prospective investors India-Uganda agri-business meeting, Mr Issa Mukasa, the director investment promotion at Uganda Investment Authority, said the sector is still under exploited despite its huge potential.
“We have big numbers of animals producing raw materials needed in the sector but few people have invested in the sector due to limited finances,” he said. However, despite having a huge potential to produce enough quantities to meet local demand, Uganda still imports over 90% of its leather products due to limited technology and exportation of raw hides and skins, which inhibits growth of the sector.
