Uganda’s tea exports earnings rebound

Original Story Published by: The Independent, www.independent.co.ug
Photo Source: Courtesy Photo

(Above) Tea exports for Uganda have gone up.

Kampala,  Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s tea earnings have rebounded from a slight slump in March which was occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic lockdown that saw the Mombasa tea auction house temporarily shut.

According to official government figures, tea sellers earned more money in April, May, and June 2020, an indicator that the sector has put the COVID-19 slump behind. This is even though in April and May 2020, Uganda was under total lockdown.

For instance, in March, earnings were USD 5.15 million (18.9 billion Shillings), climbing to USD 6.14 million (22.5 billion Shillings) in April, and USD 6.49 million (23.8 billion Shillings) in May, reaching the highest monthly level in June at USD 7.02 million (25.7 billion Shillings). Between December and February 2020, earnings averaged USD 6 million (22 billion Shillings) per month.

George William Ssekitoleko, the chairman of Uganda Tea Association (UTA), said this was the picture in the sector at the moment. He added, however, the increased earnings are not due to better prices but due to increased production of the crop. Ssekitoleko said more production has pushed up by the good weather and more planting.