INDEPENDCE | UG@60 | MUSEVENI

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni has condemned the importation of second-hand clothes, saying it is from dead people.

“African markets are flooded with secondhand clothes, which are from dead people,” Museveni said.

He made the remarks during Uganda’s 60th Independence Anniversary at Kololo Independence Grounds on Sunday, October 9, 2022.

Value addition key

Museveni also said agents and foreign interest in Africa oppose value-addition efforts to frustrate industrialisation.

“We import everything from abroad, yet the raw materials are available in Africa, hence retardation in growth,” Museveni said.

He added that in Uganda, there are fights with political actors over value addition.

However, the President said Uganda has at least started producing posho, processed milk, fertilisers and some textiles.

He revealed that the global value of trade in coffee is $460b, but Africa gets only $2.5b, with Uganda receiving $800m. 

“We are getting little money from coffee," he said.

Museveni said he is committed to adding value to Uganda’s coffee.

Museveni urged leaders to use parastatals to create prosperity for the people through patriotism and pan-Africanism.