Uganda cotton industry back in the doldrums

[Tallrays]

Cotton was Uganda’s second most important cash crop in 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, after coffee, accounting for up to 25 percent of foreign exchange. But today, the ‘white gold’, as it was then described, accounts for less than 5 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Busoga, Acholi, Lango, Teso, and Bukedi (now known as Tororo, Pallisa, Budaka and Busia districts) in Uganda were major cotton growers in 1950s through to the ‘70s, and ‘80s, but today not much cotton is grown in these areas. Western Uganda, which used to produce less cotton has now taken the lead. Kasese, Kamwenge, and Bushenyi districts in Western Uganda; and Kamuli, Kitgum, Katakwi, and Lira districts in Northeastern Uganda, now produce all the country’s cotton.

FULL ARTICLE LINK: Uganda cotton industry back in the doldrums | East Africa in Focus