Raw hide ban

A resolution has been passed to increase export taxes on hides and skins to 30% and ban exports within three years. Following a regional workshop organised by ESALIA in Nairobi, Kenya, the Uganda Investment Authority received a report saying that one of the resolutions passed said governments should impose restrictions on the export of hides and skins to countries outside Africa. The source said the Ugandan tanneries incurred higher production costs because they cannot compete with traders who export raw hides. On the other hand, a leading hides and skins exporter recently appealed to the government to lower the export tax to 15%.