The absence of a factory to process hides and skin into leather is hindering the growth of the leather industry in Uganda. The country has seven medium-sized leather tanneries and several small ones, with an installed capacity to process close to 10,000 hides and 47,000 skins per day, but no factory that processes hides and skins into final leather. As a result, many Ugandans prefer imported leather products since they feel domestic products are of poor quality.

The situation has robbed the local industry of a potential market and a productive ground to breed their businesses and brands to grow and be more competitive. Uganda’s small-scale entrepreneurs are encouraged to invest in the textile and leather industry in the country.

They are being urged to start tanning the tides from Uganda as opposed to buying expensive leather from other countries. Uganda has the potential to produce 1.4 million cattle hides, 3.1 million goatskins and 0.68 million sheepskins annually. Nonetheless, the collection rates currently average at 1.2 million hides, 2.4 million goat skins and 0.54 million sheepskins.

Entrepreneurs are urged to think beyond the business confinement of their national boundaries, casting their network of opportunities beyond the east African region and into the global market.