A rural shea butter processing enterprise in Otuke District has more than doubled its exports to the United States, shipping 23 metric tonnes of the product in a consignment expected to expand market opportunities for 1,000 women in Northern Uganda.
Okere Shea Cooperative Society Limited flagged off a 40-foot container on October 18, marking its second major shipment to the US market following an initial export of nine metric tonnes in 2025.
The latest consignment was processed at Okere City in Otuke District using approximately 50 metric tonnes of shea nuts supplied by women from Otuke and neighbouring Agago District, according to the cooperative.
The shea butter will be supplied to US-based buyers Forested and Bansk Beauty for use in cosmetics and skincare products.
Ojok Okello, founder and chief executive officer of Okere City, said the growing export business demonstrated the potential of local agro-processing to create income-generating opportunities for rural communities.
“This is not simply a container of shea butter leaving Northern Uganda for America. It is a container carrying the hard work, sacrifices, hopes, and determination of 1,000 rural women,” Okello said.
The latest shipment represents an increase of approximately 156 per cent in export volume compared with the cooperative’s inaugural consignment of nine metric tonnes in 2025.
Established in 2019, Okere Shea Cooperative processes Nilotica shea nuts into butter, helping producers earn more from value addition rather than relying solely on selling raw nuts.
For generations, women in Northern Uganda have collected shea nuts to supplement household incomes. However, limited processing capacity and restricted access to organised markets have constrained the resource’s commercial potential.
Okere Shea Cooperative has invested in processing equipment, farmer mobilisation and quality assurance to meet international market requirements and expand its export business.
Despite the growing demand, the enterprise faces challenges, including high transportation costs, unreliable electricity, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to affordable financing.
Okello called for increased investment from the government and development partners in rural agro-processing, transport infrastructure and affordable financing to help local enterprises access international markets.
He also urged farmers in the Lango and Acholi sub-regions to conserve mature shea trees, plant seedlings and organise themselves into producer groups to improve market access and strengthen their bargaining power.
According to the cooperative, growing demand for Nilotica shea butter could encourage communities to protect shea trees while generating additional income from the resource.
The latest shipment highlights the potential of rural agro-processing to connect women producers in Northern Uganda to international markets, create livelihood opportunities and increase the value of locally sourced agricultural products.