Uganda’s textile, apparel, and leather industry leaders are calling for urgent action to improve product quality, strengthen branding, and implement supportive policies to boost the country’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Speaking at the Textile Apparel and Leather Investment Forum (TALIF) 2025 held at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, Stephen Asiimwe, Executive Director of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), emphasized that despite the fashion and textile sector being one of the world’s largest industries, Uganda’s presence remains limited due to weak brand identity and product development.
Cultural Heritage as a Branding Asset
“Uganda’s unique cultural garments—such as the Gomesi, Mshanana, and Kanzu—are powerful symbols of national identity. We must leverage them to build strong, recognizable brands,” Asiimwe stated. He urged producers to reimagine these traditional styles for modern use and global markets.
Held under the theme “Fostering Synergies in the African Textile and Leather Industry,” the forum gathered key stakeholders from across the value chain to discuss strategies for industry transformation.
Boosting Local Industries and Job Creation
Asiimwe highlighted the significant role the textile and leather sectors already play in Uganda’s economy, employing approximately 2.5 million people in the apparel sector and another one million in Gomesi production. He argued that with better branding, innovation, and policy support, these sectors could become even stronger engines of job creation and foreign exchange earnings.
The PSFU leader also referenced Nigeria’s local fashion industry—valued at $4.7 billion—as an example of how Africa can build vibrant domestic sectors that compete globally.
“With the right investments in innovation, marketing, and policy reforms, Uganda’s industries can replicate and even surpass such success,” he said.
The PSFU’s initiatives like the GROW programme and INVITE project were cited as key efforts to empower women, create jobs, and support industrial transformation through export-oriented strategies.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Other industry voices echoed Asiimwe’s sentiments.
Gashegu Muramira, Executive Director of the African Integration Think Tank (AFITT), stressed the need for closing the gap between public and private sector efforts and called for improved infrastructure in the hides and skins sector.
Daniel Kazibwe, PSFU Board Member for Culture and Creative Arts, emphasized that Uganda already produces quality textiles and leather goods but struggles with poor finishing and branding, preventing international recognition.
Karen Uwera, CEO of ACHIEVAZ Ltd, and Faith Aweko, Founder of Reform Africa, highlighted the untapped potential of the creative economy, while also noting challenges around consumer education and market acceptance of locally made and recycled products.
Agnes Kitumba, CEO of Arise Collections Ltd, pointed to the continued consumer preference for imported goods over locally produced items, calling for stronger national campaigns to shift public perceptions.
“West Africans have successfully made their local apparel iconic. Uganda can do the same if we focus on innovation, pride in our cultural identity, and strategic marketing,” Asiimwe concluded.
Industry leaders at TALIF 2025 agreed that with better branding, quality improvements, robust policy support, and mindset shifts, Uganda’s textile and leather sectors have immense potential to drive sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness.
