Goodbye to old clothes in Uganda - 13th December 2023

Fashions might be about to change in Uganda. The president, Yoweri Museveni, would like his country to stop buying old clothes.

The problem is that one in three Ugandans - 16 million - like to buy secondhand clothes. But President Museveni's planning to stop this. For government minister David Bahati, this change is needed. According to the president, Ugandans should put on new clothes.

David Bahati: "And this is the focus that our country, that His Excellency the President, President Museveni says this must be sorted, because Ugandans need to put on new clothings."

Uganda's grown cotton for years. For now, it's sold to foreign countries. But Bahati believes the cotton can be used to make clothes in Uganda.

David Bahati: "We have cotton. We can produce all these things that we're talking about in the secondhand market, here in Uganda. And we have companies that have started producing."

Now sellers are nervous about their jobs. Old clothing is an important trade in the capital, Kampala. Owino market's been the centre of the business since 1971.

Peace Mackline owns a secondhand clothes shop there.

Peace Mackline: "So if they come and ban us, number one we are going to lose our jobs. Sustaining our families is going to be very difficult."

Customers are also upset. They prefer buying secondhand clothes because they're cheaper and they're made better.

Grace Nakytende: "They are cheap, people easily can make, can get them at a cheaper prices. Every, every person can buy cheap clothes, better than these new shoe, these new clothes."

Uganda's a country where 30 percent of people are poor. Many of them are upset about the news from the government. They'll be ready to fight the decision.