The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Uganda’s salon and beauty industry through structured policy support, following a stakeholder meeting with the Federation of Uganda Salons and Beauty Professionals (FUSPro).

FUSPro, which currently unites over 120,000 professionals and 19,000 salons, presented its progress in skills development, value addition, waste management, and promotion of organic beauty products. The federation operates across 141 districts, impacting a national workforce of 2.13 million, and trains special interest groups including refugees and people with disabilities.

The Under Secretary at MTIC, Mr. Deogratius Masagazi urged FUSPro to organize its business profiles under the MSME department, work within UNBS operational frameworks, and market itself more visibly to its own members. She also encouraged tapping into government schemes like PDM, Emyooga, and GROW for funding.

The Commissioner for Business Development and Quality Assuarance, Mr. Patrick Mugisha echoed the need for internal organization, recommending a technical committee to oversee quality assurance and engage manufacturers to tackle counterfeit products. He also emphasized the role of data organization and policy alignment as critical tools for sector-wide advocacy and growth.

FUSPro is taking innovative steps, including a salon truck for awareness campaigns, establishment of hair waste recycling infrastructure in Namunkekeera, and a push for natural cosmetics. However, challenges such as limited access to packaging technology, fake beauty products, and unregistered businesses persist.

The Commissioner also recommended utilizing the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) for essential oil extraction from local plants — an opportunity to transform Uganda into a hub for natural and organic beauty products.

As the cosmetics sector edges toward a $400 million market size, the meeting was a timely platform for government and private sector actors to collaborate in building a more professional, inclusive, and competitive beauty industry.