Uganda’s leather industry is still young and it has grown fairly impressively in recent years, aided by a number of factors among them a healthy livestock population estimated at 14.37 million cattle, 15.73 million goats, 4.31 million sheep, 4.04 million pigs, and 46.29 million poultry (2017 estimates). With an off-take rate of up to 15 percent for cattle and 30 percent for sheep and goats, the country has the potential to produce around 1.4 million cowhides and about 3.1 million goats and 0.68 million sheepskins per annum. Additionally, Uganda’s leather industry has some non-conventional leather sources such as fish, ostrich, and crocodile meant for the high-end leather market. About 15 to 20 percent of Ugandan hides can be used for upholstery.
Secondly, the leather industry is being governed by the 2015 – 2025 Uganda Leather Value Chain Strategy that outlines definite targets to be achieved by 2020, including 0% export of raw hides and skins, except rejects for gelatin; 100 percent raw hides and skins converted to wet blue; 25 percent of total wet blue converted into finished leather for domestic production; increased footwear output to 500,000 pairs per annum; and 90 percent compliance to environmental management standards.
There are 10 operational tanneries in Uganda, with a tanning capacity of 1.08 and 2.0 million hides and skins per year respectively, even though this optimum capacity has not been reached yet (Uganda Leather Association, 2018). Approximately 95 percent of tanned hides and skins are exported as semi-processed leather (wet blue). Crust and finished leather production is still marginal. Between 2008 and 2012, Uganda produced on average 1.6 million hides and 4.7 million skins per annum, equivalent to 25,600 metric tons and 9,400 metric tons, of wet blue respectively.
With only 6 medium-sized footwear factories and more than 800 small-scale footwear entrepreneurs in the country, the footwear industry still has huge investment potential. Ugandan footwear demand is estimated at 25 million pairs per year, with only about 1 million pairs being produced in the country. That huge demand gap is an investment opportunity waiting to be explored.
Value addition is still low in the Uganda leather industry. In order to stimulate it, the government imposed a total ban on the export of raw hides and skins. This has contributed to an increase in the export of value-added products from USD 25 million in 2001 to USD 64 million in 2013.
Uganda Leather and Allied Industries Association (ULAIA) is a nonprofit trade association of the leather and associated industries businesses representing the collective interests of the butchers’ associations, hides and skins collectors and exporters/ merchants, tanners, footwear and leather goods manufacturers.
ULAIA’s mandate is to coordinate, enhance and improve the leather industries’ business climate by promoting the production and processing of leather, shoes, leather goods and garment, protecting the rights of members, advocacy and assisting businesses to improve.
ULAIA was established by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO Leather Projects-Uganda and Regional in Kenya) in January 1996 with the support and assistance from the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC).
Objectives of ULAIA:
- Promote and foster the interests of the leather industry through the provision of technical advice, investment promotion and market information
- Promote cooperation among its members and establish a good working relationship with other stakeholders in the value chain
- Maintain a close working relationship with the government and other bodies and assist in creating and sustaining an enabling environment for the industry.
- Represent the common interest of its members in negotiations with any institutions and individuals that support the development of the leather industry.
- Participate in the development of policies and standards in the leather sub-sector and assist to enforce them
- Encourage and advocate for research and development in the sub-sector
Focus on environmental issues by assisting in the formulation of realistic policies and standards implementable, with direct involvement and co-operation of the industrial sub-sectors specifically on cleaner production practices.
Vision
To be the leading organization in promoting the leather industry, in producing the best quality leather and leather products in Uganda and the region.
Mission
Uganda Leather and Allied Industries Association (ULAIA) works to coordinate, advocate, enhance and improve the leather industries business environment in Uganda.
Services Offered
ULAIA Membership Services
- Advocacy
- Dialog with government and other bodies
- Member advocacy meeting
- Training and Skills Development
- Tailor-made training for members and other stakeholders
- Coordinating internships for students
- Technical training in production technologies and standards
- Consultancy and Advice
- Advisory services on investment opportunities
- Technical consultancy on technology and environmental aspects
- Capacity building on product development
Contacts
The ULAIA Secretariat is located at
USSIA Building, Room 7, UMA Show Grounds Lugogo, Kampala, Uganda
P.O Box 1307,
Kampala Uganda
Email:ugandaleather@gmail.com
Web: www.ugandaleather.co.ug