Uganda needs policy to revive textile industry
The textile industry is the only economic sector in Uganda. But it has attracted the least investors for the last 20 years. It is the only area which hardly attracts donor support especially as far as technical and postgraduate training is concerned.
How is Uganda going to grow into a textile giant and stop being a dumping ground for cheap but low quality textile goods without a comprehensive textile policy in place? Uganda is one of the few countries in the world with one of the best cotton grades.
Why do they still employ unqualified textile workers and yet there is potential to develop their own local manpower at all levels? Why has this country not taken textile education very seriously? Why should they continue to think and imagine that the study of textiles is only vocational in nature and should therefore be relegated to home management in an educational system?
Adding value to their good cotton should be the way forward. This is what countries like India, Mauritius, Bangladesh and China have done. There should be deliberate efforts by the Government to discourage exporting of cotton.
They should spin it locally and export yarn and fabrics instead. There are remnants of well trained and skilled personnel still around, after the collapse of the textile industry during Idi Amin’s days, who if put together and motivated can contribute positively to the revival and sustainability of the local textile industry in the country.
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