Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has taken a significant step in reshaping the nation's textile industry by imposing a ban on the importation of used clothing, commonly known as "dead people's clothes." The decision aims to strengthen local textile industries and promote self-sufficiency in clothing production within the East African country.
For years, like many other African nations, Uganda has been a major recipient of second-hand clothing donations from Western countries. This practice has been popular among consumers due to its affordability, but it has raised concerns among local manufacturers. They argue that the influx of used clothing overwhelms the market and hinders Uganda's efforts to develop its cotton and textile industry further.
President Museveni, speaking on August 25, expressed his rationale for the ban.
"They are for dead people. When a White person dies, they gather their clothes and send them to Africa," president Museveni stated.
While the exact percentage of donated clothing that originates from deceased individuals remains uncertain, organizations like Oxfam estimate that around 70% of garments donated to charity in Europe and the United States eventually find their way to African markets.
Museveni highlighted the plight of local clothing producers who have been struggling to gain a foothold in their own market. He emphasized this point during the inauguration of nine factories in the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park in Mbale city. The President's hope is that by curbing the influx of used clothing, locally-produced apparel will have a better chance of thriving in the market.
"We have people here who produce new clothes but they cannot infiltrate the market," Museveni shared.
Uganda, a notable cotton producer, has historically exported a significant portion of its cotton in semi-processed form, resulting in limited value addition within the country. The value of cotton exports ranged between $26-76 mn annually over the past decade, according to data from Uganda's central bank. The ban on used clothing imports is intended to incentivize the development of the local textile industry and encourage the creation of value-added products domestically.
The decision aligns with the goals of the East African Community, a regional economic bloc of which Uganda is a member. In 2016, the bloc collectively committed to phasing out the importation of used clothing by 2019, though only Rwanda fully implemented the ban. The repercussions of Rwanda's move were felt when the United States suspended its duty-free clothing exports to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2018.
While the United States embassy in Kampala did not immediately respond to inquiries about the recent ban, President Museveni has also extended the restriction to include items like electricity meters and electric cables. He has urged the purchase of these goods from local Ugandan factories, a step that he believes will further enhance domestic industrial growth.
As Uganda embarks on this ambitious venture to reshape its textile sector, the ban on used clothing imports is expected to both spark challenges and opportunities. While the affordability of second-hand clothing will be missed by some consumers, the move holds the promise of igniting a new era of self-reliance and industrial development within the country.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Threads pages to keep up to date on world news.
Comments (0)