Shagun Roy, Pune
Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, has declared a prohibition on importing second-hand clothing into the East African nation. Museveni contends that such imports hinder the growth of local textile sectors and that these garments were owned by deceased Western individuals.
Similar to many African nations, Uganda traditionally imported substantial quantities of used clothing, favored by some consumers for its affordability. However, domestic manufacturers raise concerns that the influx of second-hand apparel inundates the market, undermining Uganda’s potential to advance within the cotton and textile industry’s value chain. Museveni’s statement suggests that these clothes are connected to deceased Westerners.
Around 70% of clothing donated to charity in Europe and the United States ultimately finds its way to Africa, as per Oxfam. It remains unclear what percentage of these donations originates from deceased individuals, as Reuters has not been able to promptly verify this data.
Museveni emphasized the presence of local cloth producers but noted their struggle to establish a market presence. He made these comments during the inauguration of nine factories at the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park.
While Uganda is a significant cotton producer, a substantial portion is exported in semi-processed form. The value of cotton exports ranged between $26-76 million annually from 2012 to 2022, according to Uganda’s central bank. The East African Community, of which Uganda is a member, had agreed in 2016 to implement a complete ban on used clothing imports by 2019. However, only Rwanda executed this ban.
Consequently, the United States suspended Rwanda’s privilege to export clothing duty-free under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2018. This was a repercussion of Rwanda’s unilateral enforcement of the used clothing import ban. The US embassy in Kampala has not provided immediate feedback on inquiries.
Museveni also stated that the ban would encompass electricity meters and cables, asserting that these items should be procured from Ugandan factories.