Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has banned the import of used clothing to the East African nation, stating that it harms the development of the local textile industry and that these clothes come from deceased Westerners. Like many African countries, Uganda typically imports large quantities of used clothing preferred by some consumers due to their low cost. However, local manufacturers complain that the influx of secondhand clothes undermines Uganda's ability to enhance the value of its cotton and textile industry.
Museveni stated on Friday, "These are the clothes of the dead. When a white person dies, their clothes are collected and sent to Africa." According to Oxfam, a British charity, at least 70 percent of the clothing donated to charities in Europe and the United States ends up in Africa. Uganda is a major cotton producer, but most of its production is exported in semi-processed forms, with cotton exports valued at between 26 and 27 million dollars annually for the decade ending in 2022, according to Uganda's central bank. Museveni noted that the ban would also include electricity meters and electrical connections, stating that they must be purchased from factories in Uganda.
