{
  "id": 13996267,
  "title": "Uganda: Cotton in Uganda 64 Years After Independence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/uganda-cotton-in-uganda-64-years-after-independence",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-12T15:13:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "AllAfrica",
    "slug": "allafrica",
    "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202610120536.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Uganda commemorates the 64th anniversary of its independence, the country's cotton industry stands in stark contrast to its former prominence in the nation's economy. Once among the leading cotton producers in sub-Saharan Africa, with production peaking at 84,000 tonnes in 1969, the sector has struggled to regain its former strength.\n\nFollowing years of political and economic turmoil, cotton production has not rebounded to its previous levels. The question now arises: can farmers earn sufficient income from cotton to compete with other crops, and can Uganda rejuvenate the processing and marketing systems that once bolstered the industry? World Cotton Day, observed on October 7, brought attention to these challenges.\n\nHistorically, cotton in Uganda was supported by a network of farmers' cooperatives, ginneries, spinning mills, and textile factories. These institutions forged links between cotton-growing regions and domestic manufacturing and export markets. Cooperatives played a crucial role in organizing farmers and marketing their produce. By 1971, there were 53 cotton ginneries handling 440,000 bales, with several textile firms providing markets for the lint produced. However, this system faltered due to political instability, economic disruption, and the collapse of cooperative operations.\n\nBy 1976, cotton production had plummeted to just 2,000 tonnes, and it remained low until the 1990s, when economic reforms and improved prices helped the sector recover. Despite this, cotton has not regained its economic significance. The fundamental issue, as noted by John Baffes in the World Bank's 2009 study, is the low profitability of the sector. Farmers require dependable buyers and timely payments, while ginners need sufficient seed cotton and spinning mills need reliable supplies of lint at competitive prices.\n\nRecent reports highlight the difficulties faced by cotton farmers in Uganda. In Omoro District, farmers reported a steep decline in cotton prices, from 2,500 shillings per kilogramme to as low as 1,500 shillings. This price drop, coupled with delays in payment and limited storage facilities, has driven some farmers to sell to middlemen for even less. The African Development Bank notes that cotton is vital to Northern Uganda's local economy, but many farming communities grapple with low productivity, limited access to quality inputs, weak market links, and outdated processing facilities. According to a UNCTAD report, farmers must weigh the expected income from cotton against labor costs, waiting time for buyers, and potential returns from alternative crops.\n\nDespite its decline in market share to synthetic fibers like polyester, cotton remains crucial for clothing, household textiles, and other products. Global cotton production is projected to reach about 29.7 million tonnes by 2035, with cotton mills expected to grow alongside expanding textile industries, particularly in Asia. However, Uganda faces the challenge of producing competitive cotton, maintaining quality, and ensuring reliable sales. The decline of domestic spinning and textile industries further diminishes opportunities for job creation and income from processing the same crop.",
  "summary": "[Independent (Kampala)] As Uganda marks 64 years of independence, cotton remains one of the country's traditional cash crops, but production and export earnings have fallen far short of its former position in the economy.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}