Second hand clothes. Photo credit: thecultureist.com

Youths Under their umbrella Organization Worldwide African Congress has petitioned parliament asking it to pass to bill entitled “Made in Africa Bill 2015” to ban the importation of secondhand underwear and bras.

The youths who have displayed the secondhand underwear at Parliament say that they want a law that will prohibit the sale and exportation of secondhand underwears, knickers, brassieres, vests and night dresses which they say poses serious health hazards on Ugandans.

Addressing Journalists shortly after submitting the petition to the clerk to parliament Jane Kibirige, the Chairperson of World Wide Africa Congress, Mayambala Wa-Africa, said that Ugandans should wake up and reject second hand imports.

The youth expressed their sadness over government’s continued suffocation of the local industries that would have manufactured such simple products for Ugandans and also employ the youths. They said that the government has implemented many laws and policies to boost foreign investors who are given tax-free holiday package while neglecting local manufacturers here in Uganda.

They said they wanted the Minister of Trade and Industry to resign from office if local companies are not granted fair opportunities in government programs in the sector of investment.

Mayambala said local companies in Uganda lose dignity if they cannot even manufacture matchboxes, toothpicks, needles, and razorblades; adding that it’s more degrading if Uganda cannot even manufacture simple underwear and our people, have to use second hand underwear that white people have worn-out and deem unfit to wear.

If their petition is heard Uganda will join countries like Ghana that impletmented such a law where market traders were banned from selling second-hand underwear because, according to Ghana Standards Board, used pants – and other second-hand goods like handkerchiefs and mattresses – are unhygienic and could pose a health hazard.