CONSTRAINTS TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEATHER,HIDES AND SKINS INDUSRTY IN UGANDA

BY

MAGONA NATHAN WADIYA

BAPTM (Mak)

Abstract

Uganda is a land located, developing country in Africa with good

climatic conditions combined with very fertile soils that have

contributed towards the increasing livestock numbers, production

of hides & skins and populations. With this background there is

very high development potential for the leather, hides and skins

industry in Uganda that will provide employment, revenue and

income.

Despite this the industry is still below its development

potential with challenges in production, processing and marketing

that have seen the industries failure to increase on value

addition of raw hides and skins; yet there are initiatives

/efforts that have been made and put in place for example the tax

levied on export of raw hides and skins and promotions of

investment in this industry by ULAIA, government and COMESA

towards it development.

This study was conducted to identify constraints hindering the

current development of leather, hides and skins industry in

Uganda so that appropriate measures are made for future

development of this sector. This was descriptive study where by

qualitative methods of data collection were used to collect data

from livestock flayers/ slaughterers, hides and skins traders,

tanneries and authorities /opinion leaders (DVOs and ULAIA

staff). SPSS was used for data analysis and results presented in

frequency tables.

The results indicated that lack of proper slaughter facility was

the most faced constraint towards the production of quality hides

and skins but closely followed by lack of proper flaying

equipments, ignorance and poor flaying skills faced by

slaughters/flayers in Uganda. Secondly that poor production

methods associated with equipment, inadequate infrastructure,

limited human resource and poor husbandry was the most faced

constraint to hides and skins traders in Uganda. Thirdly that

high costs of production associated with environmental management

& power costs with marketing challenges and price fluctuations

are the most faced constraints affecting tanners both attaining

the some percentage. Lastly opinion leaders indicated that poor

infrastructure associated with, disease control, poor slaughter

facilities storage, and preservation was the leading constraint

towards development of the leather hides and skins industry in

Uganda.

1.0. INTRODUCTION

Uganda is a country gifted by nature with good climatic

conditions; soils and environment which are contributing to the

increasing livestock numbers. The latest livestock census shows

that Uganda cattle population is estimated at 11.4 million, goat

population is estimated at 12.5 million and sheep population is

estimated at 3.4 million. (Mwesigye, october 2010). This is an

increase from 2004 were cattle population was at 6,567,000, sheep

at 1,552,000 and goats at 7,566,000 (uganda bureau of statistics, 2008)

With these livestock numbers, Uganda has got very good potential

for development of the leather hides and skins industry. A study

by UNIDO in 2002 showed that Uganda had a production potential of

1.4 million cattle hides, 3.1 million goat skins and 0.68 million

sheep skins. (kulabako, government turns investment facus to

hides and skins , 2011). Currently reported collection rates are

at approximately 1.9 million hides and 4.8 million goat/sheep

skins. (uganda investment authority , 2008) given this

potential the leather, hides and skins industry in Uganda is

undeveloped where by only 1 % of collected raw hides and skins

are processed to finished leather while.

As reported in 2008 only 10% of collected hides and skins reached

the tanneries and were processed to pickle, wet blue and very

little into finished leather, while 90% of the collected hides

and skins were exported in their raw form.

This has been attributed to limited capacity by Ugandan tanneries

to process and add value to raw hides and skins. Only Uganda

Leather Industries tannery processes leather to finished stage

ready to use in the market. The other few tanneries process hides

and skins to wet blue stage for export.

Through Uganda investment authority(UIA), Uganda leather

industries and allied industries association (ULAIA) foreign

investors are encouraged to invest in the hides and skins

development. Export duties have been leaved on every raw hide and

skin being exported so as to discourage those companies and

individuals’ exporting raw hides and skins so that developed of

the leather industries is achieved. (uganda investment authority, 2008)

The finished leather processed in Uganda cannot support the

domestic market in Uganda of leather product works and yet if a

hide is processed, its multiplier effect is 3 to 4 times and in

finished products it is 10-12 time more profitable.

It’s very disappointing that even the locally available producersof leather good in Uganda tend to import leather from othercountries. We definitely lose out in terms of employment, incomegeneration and revenue collected. This is an indication of how

primate the hides and skins industry is reflecting the primitivetimes of the colonialism were raw materials were exported.

In 2005 Uganda was losing over about $ 139 million (about Shs

2.4b) export revenue because of unprocessed leather in form of

raw hides and skins. (nakaweesi, Uganda losses Shs 2.4. bn in

hides and skins trade, 2005) At this period of time exportation

of raw hides collected was at 95%, now given that there are more

tanneries and more raw hides produced the export is at 90% of the

raw hides and skins. This is an indication that there are very

many constrains hindering the development of the leather, hides

and skins industry in Uganda.

Today because of increasing global challenges that range from

effects of climate change shifts in population growth, food

security concerns. Uganda is one of the developing third world

countries that need to produces more domestic products that will

be consumed by those developed nations that are very concerned on

environment and are affected by lack of labored force to support

their industries. Hence this providers more investment

opportunities to Uganda.

Lack of knowledge, skills, equipment’s and failed regulation in

quality assurances at production and processing by the relevant

stakeholders at the different levels. Additionally ignorance by

most of Uganda’s population on the importance of development of

this industry has left the industry ignored and hence reliance on

imports of leather products.

1.1. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Uganda has a large livestock population and a great potential of

production of large numbers of high quality hides and skins that

when processed can fetch its government good export revenue but

despite this the leather, hides and skins industry is still under

developed with low value addition/processing of hides and skins.

Uganda exports over 90 % of collected raw hides and skins in

their raw form according to a report by MAAIF and ULIAI in 2010.

This exports employment and government losses revenue and

reeducated GDP value.

According to statistics from World Bank, IGAD and UBOS livestock

in Uganda contributes less done 1.5 % to the national GDP and its

hides and skins that make the highest export in this

approximately 90% of collected hides and skins are exported in

raw form

This high percentage of export of raw hides and skins indicates

how primitive and underdeveloped this industry was in Uganda.

There are efforts set up by the Ugandan government and other non-

government organizations towards the development of this industry

but to date there is little development in this sector with less

done 1 % collected hides and skins processed to finished leather.

1.2. OBJECTIVES

1.2.1. Main objective

To identify constraints hindering the current development of

leather hides and skins industry so that appropriate measures are

made for future development of this sector.

1.2.2. Specific objectives

I. To identify constraints towards obtaining quality hides and

skins at production, preservation, storage and processing.

II. To identify constraints towards obtaining quality semi-

processed and processed leather in Uganda.

III. To indentify challenges faced by regulatory bodies in Uganda

in ensuring the development of the leather hides and skins

industry (veterinary departments and ULAIA).

1.3. SIGNIFICANCE

Livestock in Uganda contribute 1.7 % to the total GDP as

indicated in the official report of 2009 of which export value is

the most consideration in a country’s GDP calculations. Livestock

and livestock products constitute a small portion of Uganda

official export trade, in the period from 2006 to 2010 never

amounting to more than 1.5 % of all exports as indicated by value

table (1.1.) below.

Table 1.1: formal export of livestock products - quantity value

and percentage of all export value

commodity unite 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

  tonne 22,214 20,942 

13,042  5,160 

120,869 

 Cattle hides

000 us$  8,032 18,114 

12,518  5,996 

17,061 

 % value  0.8  1.4 0.7  0.4   1.1

 000 head  0  23 95  198   7

 Live animals

000 us$  28  1,551

 1,822

 3,908

 3,985

 % value  0.0  0.1  0.1  0.2  0.2

Source: (policy brief series IGAD center for pastoral areas andlivestock development (ICPALD), 2013)

Leather, Hides and skins industry is the largest export

contributor among livestock products in Uganda despite the

industries challenges that constraint its production potential.

This study was significant in a way that it identified

constraints at production, storage, tanning and marketing aimed

at development of appropriate measures and strategies set and

put in place geared towards the development of the leather, hides

and skins industry; in order to improve and increase on

employment, income and revenue. Thus finally development of this

industry will generally increase on Uganda’s GDP and increase on

livestock contribution towards the total GDP which will improve

on additional national budgetary allocation towards agriculture

and livestock production.

1.4. JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Uganda is faced with very many challenges’ ranging from poverty,

hunger, lack of employment, poor infrastructure and dependence on

foreign aid. Developing the leather industry will have an

improvement on the animal industry, increase on GDP, increase

income, and development of the nation.

The main purpose of this study was to identify challenges that

Uganda faced in development of the leather, hides and skins

industry and how these challenges can be aviated by farmers,

scholars, extension service providers, policy makers, investors

and other related stakeholders. So that there is improvement in

animal management practices, improved animal slaughter

facilities, improved preservation of hides and skins, increase in

the number of hides and skins tanned and processed into leather

within Uganda.

Theoretical frame work

Improvement on production quality, processing of hides and skins

directly develops the leather, hides and skins industry which can

have a trickledown impact on development of other sectors in

national development.

2.0. METHODOLOGY

2.1. Study design

The research design was cross- sectional in nature. The cross-

sectional design was opted for in this study because it was a

very valuable tool for assessing opinions and trends. In this

case, therefore, the research design enable the researcher to

gather accurate and valid data on constrains of development of

the hides and skins industry in Uganda. Historical and

descriptive survey was used in the present tanneries, slaughter

places and hides and skins traders.

2.2. Research sites.

The study was conducted in seven districts of east, west and

central Uganda namely Mbale, Sironko, Busia, Jinja, Kampala,

Masaka and Mbarara. These districts have major trading towns with

more concentration of tanneries, slaughter facilities and hides

and skins traders. These regions were chosen as they are the

major centers of hides and skins production, trade and

processing.

2.3. Sampling and data collection

A total of 224 slaughters from 38 slaughter facilities, a total

of 30 hides and skins traders, a total of 9 tanneries and 10

regulatory authorities were interviewed with questionnaires in

the 7 districts of Uganda.

Purposive sampling was used to select sites and respondents which

were the major sources and markets of tanneries, slaughter

facilities, hides and skins in the districts.

The table below shows the different number, sizes and percentages

of the population under Study

Table Showing The Distribution Of Respondents In The DifferentDistricts Under Study

  Districts MbaleSironko

Busia

Jinja

Kampala

Masaka

Mbarara

Totals

1  No offacilities 6 6 2 7 4 6 7 38

 slaughters

% offacilities

15.78947

15.7895

5.2632

18.421 10.5263 15.789 18.4211 100

   

No ofrespondents 21 14 20 24 75 41 29 224

   

%ofrespondents 9.375 6.25

8.9286

10.714 33.4821 18.304 12.9464 100

2hidesand

No ofrespondents 2 2 3 4 8 5 6 30

 skinstraders

% ofrespondents

6.666667

6.66667 10

13.333 26.6667 16.667 20 100

3tanneries

No oftanneries 0 0 1 6 0 2 0 9

   % oftanneries 0 0

11.111

66.667 0 22.222 0 100

4Authorities

No ofrespondents 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 10

 

 (DVOsandULIAIAstaff)

% ofrespondents 10 10 10 10 40 10 10 100

                     

2.4. Data collection method

Various data collection techniques were applied which included

administration of questionnaires and semi-structured questions

with interviews to the various groups of persons under study.

This method was meant to gather qualitative information and any

sensitive information which could not have been captured using

any other method.

The other method applied in data collection was direct

observation. This method was used to acquire data on different

methods used for curing hides, flaying methods, tanning. The

researcher also visited the slaughter facilities, hides and skins

stores and tanneries.

Another method used was gathering information from key

informants. They included veterinary officers, ULIAI staff. The

aim was to solicit additional information which was not captured

during the administration of the other methods.

2.5. Data analysis

Qualitative data derived from questionnaires, direct observations

and key informants was examined and presented in form of

discussions. Quantitative data was edited, coded and entered in

a computer and the statistical package for social science (SPSS)

software version 11.5 spread sheets was used for the analysis.

Descriptive statistics were run to give frequencies tables and

bar charts were used to present different variables.

2.6. Data quality control

COVAB under Makerere University played a leading role on data

quality collected using the two supervisors allocated to the

researcher both during collection and data analysis. ULIAI with

its staff also played an added role in data quality control since

they are the current regulatory body of hides and skins in

Uganda.

2.7. Data presentation

After analysis of data, it was presented in frequency tables and

bar graphs.

Chapter four

3.0. PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

3.1. Constraints/challenges facing flayers in quality

production of hides and skins

The results from slaughters show that lack of proper slaughter

facility as the highest and most faced constraint towards the

production of quality hides and skins followed by lack of proper

flaying equipments, ignorance and poor flaying skills and animal

diseases and on farm defects respectively. This is indicted in

the frequency table below

Table 2. Frequency table showing challenges faced in quality productionof hides and skins

Frequency Percent ValidPercent

CumulativePercent

Valid

Lack of properflaying equipments

12 31.6 31.6 31.6

Ignorance and poorflaying skills

9 23.7 23.7 55.3

Animal diseases andon farm defects

4 10.5 10.5 65.8

Lack of properslaughter facility

13 34.2 34.2 100.0

Total 38 100.0 100.0

3.1.1. Explanation of constraints

i. Lack of proper flaying tools and equipment includes

issues ;-

-Improper flaying knifes used that causes defects from

knife cuts.

-Improper ripping knives used

-Lack of sharpening files

-Lack of ropes for tying

-Lack of water facilities

ii. Ignorance and poor flaying skills includes issues of

flayers not being trained on proper flaying and ignorant

on importance of good flaying to quality hides and skins

produced. This causes defects in form of knife cuts.

iii. Animal diseases and on farm defects includes skin

diseases that affect the quality of hides or skins. It

also includes disease quarantine effects which lead to

closure of slaughter facilities. On farm defects include

skin injuries from beating, bad housing, bad

transportation and bad branding.

iv. Lack of proper slaughter facility includes failure on

the following

-having a cemented/concrete slopping floor.

-adjacent to an adequate drainage system, which allows

the collection of the blood and soled waste for human or

animal.

- A structure of pillars or two strong posts and across

bar to enable the hoisting of animal to allow proper

bleeding.

- having adequate water facilities nearby to help in

cleanliness and hygiene.

As indicated in results from the study slaughter slabs contribute

to 73.7 %, slaughter houses contribute 21.1 % and abattoirs

contribute only 5.3%.

This is an indication as to why lack of proper slaughter

facilities and lack of proper flaying equipments are the most

constraints towards production of quality hides and skin.

This is due to the observations that most slabs lack the required

facilities as indicated in explanations in 4.1.1.iv.

Table 3. Frequency table showing slaughter facility

type

Frequency Percent ValidPercent

CumulativePercent

Valid

slaughter slab 28 73.7 73.7 73.7slaughterhouse

8 21.1 21.1 94.7

Abattoir 2 5.3 5.3 100.0Total 38 100.0 100.0

Additional most of the slaughterers and flayers are not trained

on proper flaying techniques as indicated in the table of results

below hence building a case for the constraints above

Table 4 showing frequency training on properflaying

Frequency Percent ValidPercent

CumulativePercent

Validyes 7 18.4 18.4 18.4no 31 81.6 81.6 100.0Total 38 100.0 100.0

Figure 1 old and over used knife

Figure 2 self made flating knife not well curved

Figure 3 dip knife cuts on a hide after flaying

Figure 4 flayer using hoist during flaying but knife his using is not proper and therewas over use of the knife during flaying

Figure 5 skin defect on grain of hide caused by wounds and bruises

3.2. Constraints faced by hides and skins traders

The results indicate that poor production methods associated with

equipment, inadequate infrastructure, limited human resource and

poor husbandry is the highest constraint to hides and skins

traders in Uganda.

Table 5. showing frequency of challenges facing the hides and skins tradeFrequency Percent Valid

PercentCumulativePercent

Valid

Poor productionmethods associatedwith equipment ,inadequateinfrastructure,limited human resourceand poor husbandry

18 60.0 60.0 60.0

Institutional weaknessassociated withpolicy , badregulations andlimited governmentsupport

6 20.0 20.0 80.0

Marketing challengesand price fluctuations

4 13.3 13.3 93.3

Limited capital andvery high tradingcosts

2 6.7 6.7 100.0

Total 30 100.0 100.0

3.2.1. Explanation of the constraints.

i. Poor production methods associated with equipment,

inadequate infrastructure, limited human resource and

poor husbandry.

These are constraints that affect directly the quality

and quantity production of hides and skins and have

issues towards defects during slaughter transportation

animal holding and on farm.

ii. Institutional weakness associated with policy, bad

regulations and limited government support. These are

relented to government protection, sensitization and

guidance. Like the exercise duty leveled on export of

raw hides and skins does not favor these traders.

iii. Marketing challenges and price fluctuations

-This challenge includes issues of changing prices

offered by tanneries,

-Lack of clear Grading by the different tanneries

especially on the breed of animal and size of hide or

skin. Like hides from the east which are mainly humped

are given very low prices by the tanneries.

iv. Limited capital and very high trading costs

-this constraint includes issues of lack of enough

running capital or money to buy hides and skins.

- It also high costs of storage of hides and skin

- High costs of perseveration of hides and skins

especially salt for wet salting

This is due to the facts that constrains from the farm to

slaughter where there are poor facilities and equipments hence

cause a lot of defects on to the hides and skins thus leading to

this challenge.

Additional the livestock production methods in Uganda are still

so traditional that issues of diseases out breaks, slaughter of

young and small animals and bad husbandry practices have also

contributed a lot to the constraint proven in study.

3.2.2. Results on Education levels of hides and skins traders

Results on educational status level of most of hides and skins

traders are at the level of tertiary / certificate that make up

40 % of the traders under study. This is shown in table 6 below

Table 6. showing frequency of level of education of hides and skins traders

Frequency Percent ValidPercent

CumulativePercent

Valid

primary level 5 16.7 16.7 16.7secondary level 5 16.7 16.7 33.3tertiary/ certificate

12 40.0 40.0 73.3

diploma level 4 13.3 13.3 86.7university degree

4 13.3 13.3 100.0

Total 30 100.0 100.0

3.2.3. Results on trading organization and existence of the hides and skins traders

The results indicated that most of the traders are trading under

registered companies who make up 46.7% of the traders under

study. This is shown in the table 7 below.

Table 7. showing frequency on trading organization of hides and skins traders

Frequency Percent ValidPercent

CumulativePercent

Valid

Individual 3 10.0 10.0 10.0registered group 4 13.3 13.3 23.3registered association

9 30.0 30.0 53.3

registered company 14 46.7 46.7 100.0Total 30 100.0 100.0

The table 8 below shows frequency on period of existence of hides

and skins traders under study

Table 8. showing frequency of period of existence in business ofthe hides and skins traders

Frequency Percent ValidPercent

CumulativePercent

Valid

0-5 years 3 10.0 10.0 10.05-10 years 11 36.7 36.7 46.710-15 years 8 26.7 26.7 73.3above 15 years

8 26.7 26.7 100.0

Total 30 100.0 100.0

3.2.4. Results on training information, preservation, storage and involvement of veterinary persons

The results indicate that 76.7% of the hides and skins traders

under study have never received any training in hides and skin

trade, preservation and storage. While the 23.3% who are trained,

have been trained by veterinary persons, tannery persons and NGOs

personals.

The results show that 70% of hides and skins traders involve

district veterinary officers in their enterprises while 30% do

not. The veterinary officers provide training, licensing and

inspection of premises of these traders.

The results indict that 90% of hides and skins traders have

storage facilities for this enterprise and 96.7% of these traders

preserve the raw hides and skins.

The results also indicate that 96.7% of traders use wet salting

as a preservation method on the raw hides and skins and while

3.3% of the traders use sun drying as a preservation method.

The traders under study show that 86.7 % of them buy raw hides

and skins by grading as TR and rejects and results also indicate

that all the traders under study specialize in buying both hides

and skins.

Most of the hides and skins traders market their raw hides and

skins to tanneries, while some sell to other local hides and

skin trader but none of the traders export raw hides and skins

duty to the high duty leveled on their export. The percentages

are shown in the table 9 below.

Table 9. showing the frequency where the traders market productsFrequency Percent Valid

PercentCumulativePercent

Valid

local hides and skinstraders

3 10.0 10.0 10.0

Tanneries 27 90.0 90.0 100.0Total 30 100.0 100.0

3.3. Constrains faced by hides and skins processors /

tanners

The results show that high costs of production associated with

environmental management & power costs with marketing

challenges and price fluctuations are the highest constrains

affecting tanners both attaining the some percentage.

Table 6. showing frequency of challenges tanners faceFrequency Percent Valid

PercentCumulativePercent

Valid

High costs ofproduction associatedwith environmentalmanagement, powercosts.

4 44.4 44.4 44.4

Marketing challengesand pricefluctuations

4 44.4 44.4 88.9

Technologicalchallenges associatedwith skilling staff

1 11.1 11.1 100.0

Total 9 100.0 100.0

3.3.1. Explanation of constraints.

i. High costs of production associated with environmental

management, and power cost

This challenge involves issues as high effluent management costs,

load shedding leading over use of generate which is very costly,

very expensive chemicals used

ii. Marketing challenges and price fluctuations

This challenge involves issues of changes in the dollar making it

had for tanners to have a clear price. Also changes of prices

given by buyers the tanners export to

Lack of market locally with in Uganda for finished leather and

its products

iii. Technological challenges associated with skilling staff

This constraint is associated with issues of highly productive

machinery in tanneries

Lack of some machinery and equipments to process hides and skins

towards finished leather

Lack of skilled staff with the technological aspect to produce

high quality processed wet blue and finished leather.

3.3.2. Results on production capacity of tanneries

under study.

The results show that 77.8% of tanneries process hides and skins

to only wet blue stage of production while 22.2 % of tanneries

process to finished leather. Leather industries of Uganda

processes most of the types of finished leather while the second

tannery which is leather works process only vegetable tanned

leather to finished stage at a very small scale.

The results as shown in table 10 indicate that most of the

tanneries in Uganda have been in existence between 5 to 10 years.

Table 10. Showing frequency of existence of tanneries under study.

Frequency Percent ValidPercent

CumulativePercent

Valid

0-5 years 3 33.3 33.3 33.35- 10 years 5 55.6 55.6 88.9over 15 years

1 11.1 11.1 100.0

Total 9 100.0 100.0

The results also indicate that 55.6 % of tanneries buy raw hides

and skins locally within Uganda while 44.4 obtain these hides

and skins both locally and also import from Uganda’s neighbors’

which include south Sudan , Rwanda, DRC Congo

Additionally all tanneries purchase hides and skins in grades

grading system usedFrequency Percent Valid

PercentCumulativePercent

Valid

only 1 and 2 above

8 88.9 88.9 88.9

all 1, 2 and 3 above

1 11.1 11.1 100.0

Total 9 100.0 100.0

order of gradesFrequency Percent Valid

PercentCumulativePercent

Valid

TR ( 1, 2,3 )

5 55.6 55.6 55.6

5 4 44.4 44.4 100.0Total 9 100.0 100.0

Results on marketing of products by tanneries

The results indicate that 77.8% of tanneries under study export

all the processed products while 22.2 % market processed products

both locally and export

The results also indicate that both NEMA staff and veterinary

staff carry out regular inspections on all the tanneries under

study.

3.4. Constrains facing the leather hides and skins

industry as indicated by veterinary officers and

U.L.I.A.I staff

Results from DVOs and ULIAI staff as option leaders indicate that

poor infrastructure associated with, disease control, poor

slaughter facilities storage, and preservation is the leading

constraint towards development of the leather hides and skins

industry in Uganda. This is shown in the table below.

Table 12. showing frequency of challenges to the industry from the DVOsand ULIAI A staff Frequency Percent Valid

PercentCumulativePercent

Valid

culture factors ; breeds, production systems

1 10.0 10.0 10.0

Poor infrastructure; diseases control , slaughter facilitates, storage preservation

6 60.0 60.0 70.0

weakness with government on policy, institutions and support

3 30.0 30.0 100.0

Total 10 100.0 100.0

The other results indicate that all the DVOs and ULIAIA staff

work scope involves the hides and skin industry by licensing,

inspection and training as indicated in the frequency table below

Table 13. showing frequency of work scope involvement. Frequency Percent Valid

PercentCumulativePercent

Valid licensing 1 10.0 10.0 10.0training 3 30.0 30.0 40.0inspection 1 10.0 10.0 50.01,2,3 2 20.0 20.0 70.0all the above

3 30.0 30.0 100.0

Total 10 100.0 100.0

The results also indicate that all the veterinary staff license

and inspect all the production stages of this industry that is at

slaughter, hides and skins traders and tannery. The ULIAIA staffs

do not inspect and license. The inspections are mostly done

annually as indicated in the table 14 below.

Table 14 . frequency on inspection ofpremises

Frequency Percent

Missing

monthly 1 10.0every after six months

2 20.0

yearly 7 70.0Total 10 100.0

Finally the veterinary staff and ULIAIA staffs all indicate that

the exercise duty put on export of raw hides and skins is of

positive advantage towards the development of the industry.

Chapter five

4.0. DISCUSSIONS OF RESULTS

4.1. Constraints at the slaughter stage of production

As indicated in the results lack of proper slaughter facility

come out as the highest constraint towards production of quality

hides and skins in Uganda at a percentage of 34.6% but was also

closed in with the constraint of lack of proper flaying equipment

at a percentage of 31.6.

This is due to the fact that most of the slaughter in Uganda is

done in slaughter slabs and slaughter houses respectively as

indicated in the results. Most of these facilities lack the

required facilities and equipments required for proper slaughter

and flaying of animals. This has resulted into animals being

slaughtered and flayed poorly on the dirty, rough floors.

Hoisting poles are not available in most of this facilities

resulting into poor bleeding and bad flaying of the animals thus

resulting into production of hides and skins with defects.

Additional all of the slabs are located in rural areas where

there is hardly veterinary inspection of the slaughter and

flaying process. All the flayers operating on slabs and most of

the slaughter houses have never been trained on proper flaying

techniques since they account for 81.6% as indicated by the

results.

There are only two abattoirs in Uganda which are Kampala city

abattoir and top cut abattoir that are not affected by this

challenge in question while most of the slaughter house are in

sorry state with bad floors, lack proper drainage ,lack water,

dirty and hoists that are non functional. When it comes to

slabs its worse off were by the consideration of a slab many

not apply to some of the slabs which were under study in that

these did not have concrete floors, no hoisting , no drainage ,

dirty and no water readily available for cleaning.

4.2. Constraints faced by hides and skins traders

As indicated in the results there is a clear range that most

hides and skin traders are faced with challenges related towards

poor production methods associated with equipment, inadequate

infrastructure, limited human resource and poor husbandry.

This is due to the fact that production and husbandry methods in

Uganda are still very local and subsistence not geared towards

commercial where by local breeds which are humped are raised, bad

branding is done, beating of animal under free range and failure

on disease control that affect the skin directly or affect the

production when quarantines are lifted.

Equipment of slaughter and facilities used add to constraint in

that wrong equipment by flayers are used and poor slaughter

facilities’ that lead to production of many bad grades of hides

and skins.

Almost all the traders are well organized have storage

facilities, preserve hides and skins using wet salting and

involve veterinary persons in their trade.

4.3. Constraints faced by tanneries in Uganda

As indicated in the results that high costs of production

associated with environmental management & power costs with

marketing challenges and price fluctuations are the two most

faced constraints by tanners in Uganda.

For example the leather industry of Uganda has on many times

been closed on failure to manage its effluent. But high costs

of effluent management are a big challenge most of the

tanneries because the chemicals used are imported and

expensive and staff used to manage this part are paid highly

too.

Uganda has a problem of load shedding where by cheap

electricity is frequency cut off leaving tanneries with the

option to run drums on generators which use very expensive

fuel hence making it very expensive to process.

The market for finished leather in Uganda is very low due to

the fact that most Ugandans buy synthetic leather products

because of their being cheap and that the purchasing power of

Ugandans is too low. The tanneries hence export most of their

products and the reason as to why most of them process to only

wet blue stage of production.

Internationally prices of wet blues keeps on changing

especially being affected by the dollar.

4.4. Constraints as indicated by authorizes ( DVOs and

ULIAIA) staff

As indicated in the results that poor infrastructure

associated with, disease control, poor slaughter facilities

storage, and preservation is the leading constraint towards

development of the leather hides and skins industry in Uganda.

Most of the roads are in bad state and some places in

accessible hence making it difficult to transport livestock,

hides and skins for industrial purposes.

All the veterinary departments are under staffed to monitor,

train and inspect all slaughter, hide and skins trade that

happens in particular districts. Disease controls are no

longer efficient with lack of tick control programs,

inefficient vaccinations. Prevalence of ecto-parasites and

notifiable diseases has increased. For instance in the past

five years over 3 quarantines have been levied because of FMD

and lumpy skin disease.

As already indicated in the results lack of proper slaughter

facilities has been cut crossing constraint along the

production chain.

Chapter six

5.0. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1. Conclusions

It was indicated and observed that poor infrastructure,

including inadequate facilities for disease control, proper

slaughter and flaying and non commercial livestock production

systems combined with bad husbandry are the main constraints

towards the production of quantity and quality hides and skins

in Uganda.

It can also be concluded that high costs of production,

including high costs of effluent management, high costs of

power in fuel and market challenges with prices fluctuations

are the main constraints faced by processors of hides and

skins in Uganda.

5.2. Recommendations

There is need for infrastructure development targeting

improvement of slaughter facilities, develop disease control

programs and develop road networks.

There is also need for development and improvement in the

extension services in teams of staff and towards training

farmers, slaughters and hides and skins traders.

There is need for government policies to be geared towards

discouragement of synthetic leather products on the market to

boost availability of local market and also tax reductions on

imported chemicals used for tanning and effluent management.

Future research can look into aspects development of the

locally available market and cost effectiveness on effluent

management in tanneries.

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