Leather Industry and Business
Background:
Uganda has a relatively large livestock population of 12.1 million cattle and 3.6 million sheep and 13.2million goats (UBOS Statistics Abstract 2011), providing a healthy base for the meat industry and the other sub sectors. Favorable climatic conditions with two main rainy seasons, endows the country with a high livestock carrying capacity. According to a study done in Ethiopia, for every US$ 1 of raw hides, there is an equivalent of US$ 3 for finished leather and US$12 for finished product
Uganda's leather industry is still in its infancy stage of development characterised by poor production and lack of value addition. It is estimated that in the financial year 2008/9, Uganda lost revenue equivalent to US$ 249.7 million by exporting of raw hides.
Over 90% of leather products are imported, despite the huge potential in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African region. Of the 25million pairs of shoes annually demanded in Uganda, 1 million are produced locally and the 24 million are imported mainly from Europe, North America and Asia.
Hides from Uganda are naturally of high quality, texture and heavy substance, making them suitable for the production of excellent leather products.
Objective:
To drive transformative skills, knowledge, technology, innovation, SMEs (Small-Medium Enterprises) and services into the meat industry and in partnerships, continuously improve production, health, employment, community well-being and economic growth.
The specific objectives of this programme are;
- To produce graduates with skills in hides and skin flaying, handling, grading and preservation, wet blue leather production, leather shoe making, leather bags and briefcase making, wallets and other leather products making.
- To contribute to the development and transformation of the underutilized leather production sector.
- To produce skilled graduates who are job creators in leather related enterprises.
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