Kampala — CLOSE to 100 tonnes of Aloe Vera fresh leaves is due for export this month, Ali Sessanga, the managing director of Uganda Commercial Aloe-Vera Farmers Association, has said.

"Uganda has secured enough market for Aloe Vera. Five tonnes of fresh Aloe Vera leaves will be purchased every week from Luwero, where the crop was first grown," he said in an interview recently.

Sessanga said there were over 100,000 farmers growing Aloe Vera in Luwero, Kiboga, Kayunga, Wakiso, Kamuli and Masindi districts, producing substantial amounts to meet the demand on the international market.

According to Sessanga, Uganda will start processing Aloe Vera gel, cosmetics and juice by December this year. "We are currently installing a sh600m plant that will produce Aloe Vera herbal tea and raw materials for cosmetics," he said.

Sessanga said once the factory is operational, they will be exporting finished Aloe Vera rather than raw.

"We have signed a memorandum with Southern Fields Aloe, Incorporated of Texas in the US to have the products manufactured from Uganda." he said.