Leather to grow. Uganda wants to invest in the leather chain. The country’s president, Yoweri Museveni, announced on December 12th, the plan to create a new tannery in Kawumu. The goal: to change the fact that the country is, as of now, only exporting raw hides to its clients, among which is also Italy.
Too much import
Museveni discussed leather at the Wankulukuku Stadium, while handing diplomas to the graduates of the course by Nateete Beauty Center. As reported by the monitor.co.ug blog, Museveni believes “Uganda spends a lot of money importing goods that could be produced within the country’s borders”. With a new tannery, Ugandans tan the raw hides and begin export semi-finished leather, or even finished-goods, for a higher value.
More than one tannery
The new tannery should be joined, always according to the president’s statements, by the creation of an entire district focused on working with leather, located in Luweero. The overall strategy, once the first phase is completed, aims at supporting the local industry with a stronger internal market demand. Museveni’s announcement, though, didn’t surprise Ugandans. Last August, in fact, the president had announced that the government was planning the creation of small industrial parks at regional level, to work materials such as coffee, cocoa, and leather, so that it could export more valuable goods.
Image from leather.ug
Read also:
- “Let’s get organized!”: East Africa’s leather segment tries to play as a team (maybe)
-
Africa, investigative report reveals raw hides smuggling across open border between Uganda and Kenya
