The Democratic Party youths are opposed to a move by President Yoweri Museveni seeking a ban on the sale and importation of second-hand clothes.
Ismail Isabirye, the President of Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), expressed concerns during a press briefing on Tuesday. He argued that this move would negatively impact the economy, as the second-hand clothing industry involves a complex network of people, including suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, hawkers, and market vendors.
Isabirye highlighted that with the country already grappling with high unemployment rates, such a decision would further worsen the situation. He criticized the textile industries that support the ban, pointing out that these factories couldn’t absorb the large workforce engaged in the second-hand clothing sector. He emphasized that most employees in these factories are imported, leaving only a small portion of jobs for Ugandans.
Additionally, Isabirye noted that the availability of raw materials like cotton for making new clothes is limited due to Ugandans’ abandonment of cotton cultivation. This shortage could eventually result in factories being unable to meet the country’s clothing demand.
Another concern raised by Isabirye was the practicality of banning second-hand clothes in a country that hosts a significant number of refugees.
“Multinational organizations like UN, Red cross etc. always send old clothes to disaster and refugee countries. Uganda is one of the countries which hosts the biggest number of refugee, how will you treat such clothes” He said.
Isabirye said that old clothes have played a crucial role in sustaining Ugandans due to their affordability. He criticized the abruptness of the proposed ban and suggested that if it were done with good intentions, it should have been phased in gradually.
President Museveni’ declared a ban on used clothing imports arguing that they hinder the growth of local textile industries. Museveni made the announcement shortly after commissioning 16 new factories in the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, last week, some of which are involved in the manufacturing of clothes.
He also argued that these clothes mostly belonged to deceased Westerners.
“I have been silent about this matter, but where we are now, I ask that you support me in stopping the importation of second-hand clothes’ told you before, that those secondhand clothes are for dead people from abroad. When the white people die, all their clothes are collected packed in bales, and brought to us the Africans. he said.
“These factories employ over 2000 youths, and many of them are making new clothes for us. But they cannot have them sold, if the market is flooded with dead people’s clothes. So, for these grandchildren of mine here, I am now declaring war on second-hand clothes.” he added
Museveni asserted that local manufacturers have complained that the influx of used clothes saturates the market and hampers Uganda’s progress in the cotton and textile industry value chain.