Ugandan Company Turns Banana Waste Into Handicrafts

Beatrice Namawejje, marketing and sales personnel for TEXFAD, displays banana fiber products, at a showroom in Kira, Wakiso District, Uganda, Sept. 20, 2023. 

Employee Anathole Kisakye, employee, extracts banana fiber threads using a machine Tupande Holdings Ltd workshop, in Kiwenda village, Busukuma, Wakiso District. Uganda, Sept. 20, 2023. 

Employee Derick Nsembe peels a banana stem where banana fiber threads are extracted from at Tupande Holdings Ltd. workshop, in Kiwenda village, Busukuma, Wakiso District. Uganda, Sept. 20, 2023.

A farmer cuts down a banana plant, at her farm, in Kiwenda village, Busukuma, Wakiso District, Uganda, Sept. 20, 2023. 

A woman displays banana fiber handmade table mats while at a TEXFAD showroom, in Kira, Wakiso District, Uganda, Sept. 20, 2023.

A worker weaves a carpet using banana fiber threads at TEXFAD factory in Sonde, Mukono District, Uganda, Sept. 20 2023. 

A view of a banana fiber wig and lampshades displayed at TEXFAD Showroom in Kira, Wakiso District, Uganda, Sept. 20, 2023. 

Manager of TEXFAD, John Baptist Okello checks a handmade carpet woven from banana fiber threads, at a factory in Sonde, Mukono District, Uganda, Sept. 20 2023.