Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has called on Africa to upscale her production of goods and services to satisfy the local market to avoid importing products from USA and Europe.

Speaking during Uganda’s independence celebrations in Kampala, Museveni said African markets are flooded with clothes that have been worn by dead people in Europe and USA.

The Ugandan Head of State listed the East African country’s manufacturing journey.

“On maize, we have moved; we can produce ‘kaunga’, animal feeds and are targeting starch and ethanol. We also produce processed liquid milk, ghee, butter, powdered milk, cheese, and yogurt,” said Museveni.


He criticized African countries for importing second-hand clothes and in the process denying their citizens job opportunities and funds that can be used to foster national development.

He added: “The African market is flooded by dead people’s clothes from USA and Europe known as second-hand clothes. Thereby exporting money and jobs.”

This comes months after Azimio La Umoja presidential aspirant Raila Odinga was forced to explain himself for referring to mitumba or second-hand clothes as “dead people clothes.”

Raila made the remarks while promising to revive the Kenyan cotton and textiles industry when he was unveiling his Azimio La Umoja manifesto At Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.