# Uganda's Cotton Crisis

> Uganda's cotton industry struggles to recover after 64 years of independence.
- Title: Uganda's Cotton Crisis · Allafrica | Shortify
- Summary: Uganda's cotton industry struggles to recover after 64 years of independence. Uganda's cotton farmers earn less than half their previous income due to…
- Keywords: uganda, cotton, farming, textile, cooperatives, price, shillings, ginneries, spinning, news, world, politics
- Source: Allafrica — https://allafrica.com/stories/202610120536.html
- Published: 2026-10-12T15:13:58+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: uganda, cotton, farming, textile, cooperatives, price, shillings, ginneries, spinning, news, world, politics
## Uganda marks 64 years of independence
Uganda celebrates 64 years of independence while cotton production remains a traditional cash crop but has fallen far short of its former economic role.
## Uganda was once a top cotton producer
Uganda produced 84,000 tonnes of cotton in 1969 according to John Baffes' World Bank study.
## Cotton industry collapsed in political turmoil
The cotton industry collapsed during years of political and economic turmoil in Uganda.
## Recovery in the 1990s did not restore strength
Cotton production recovered after reforms in the 1990s but did not restore the industry to its former strength.
## World Cotton Day highlights challenges
On October 7, 2026, World Cotton Day focused on opportunities and challenges for Uganda's cotton farmers and processors.
## Cooperatives once linked farmers to markets
Cooperatives operated 53 cotton ginneries by 1971, handling 440,000 bales of cotton.
## Textile industry provided market for cotton
Textile firms like Southern Range Nyanza Textile Industries and African Textile Mill in Mbale processed cotton into finished products.
## Cotton production fell sharply in the 1970s
Cotton output fell from 78,000 tonnes in 1972 to 14,000 tonnes in 1976 and just 2,000 tonnes in 1987.
## Farmers earn less than half their income
Cotton farmers in Omoro District reported earnings falling from 1.75 million shillings to 1.2 million shillings per season.
## Price drops force farmers to sell to middlemen
Farmers sell cotton for as little as 1,200 shillings per kilogramme due to payment delays and lack of storage.
## Cotton's profitability remains low
The fundamental problem of Uganda's cotton sector is its low profitability according to John Baffes.
## World prices affect farming decisions
Farmers plant more cotton when international prices rise, but low returns make it unprofitable.
## Cotton faces competition from synthetic fibres
Cotton competes with synthetic fibres like polyester in the global market while remaining important for clothing and textiles.
## Uganda needs competitive cotton prices
Uganda must produce cotton at competitive cost, maintain quality, and supply buyers reliably to rebuild the industry.
## Key takeaway

Uganda's cotton farmers earn less than half their previous income due to falling prices and unreliable buyers.