Uganda, May 6 -- Four leather factories in Jinja City have closed, leaving hundreds of former workers unemployed.

The factories are; SWT Leather Industries located on Mutibwa Road, Mehaka Leather Exim Smc Limited, Uganda Leather and Tannery Industries, Jinja, and Loyal Small Scale Industries located on Nile Crescent Road.

The head of membership and administration at Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jinja Branch, Mr Moses Mulondo, attributed the closure of the factories to a lack of enough raw materials.

"These factories were producing below capacity because the supply of hides and skin was lower than the demand," he said.

Mr Mulondo said the collapse of the industries has affected the economy of Jinja.

"These factori...