Boosting Uganda’s shea industry: Stakeholders launch Nilotica Shea Alliance in Kampala

KAMPALA, December 3, 2025 — Shea butter stakeholders in Uganda have officially launched the Nilotica Shea Alliance [NiSA], marking the establishment of East Africa’s first comprehensive shea platform expected to drive the shea industry in the country to greater heights.

The launch event, held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala today, brought together producers, processors, researchers, traders, exporters, development partners and government officials to strengthen and formalise the entire Nilotica shea value chain.

The umbrella body is set to serve as a unified voice for Uganda’s Nilotica shea sector, promoting policy dialogue, improved market access and climate-resilient growth.

During the launch, participants took part in strategic sessions on governance, sectoral priorities, sustainability, partnerships and investment opportunities.

Attendees also witnessed the adoption of the NiSA Constitution, governance framework and workplan, and elected the Alliance’s inaugural Board of Directors.

Stakeholders were given the opportunity to become founding members, helping shape the Alliance’s future direction. NiSA is expected to define a clear path for building a more inclusive, competitive and sustainable shea industry for generations to come.

In a statement, the Alliance described the initiative as “a vital step in advancing the Nilotica shea sector,” adding that coordinated efforts will drive innovation, improve product quality, promote sustainable management of parklands and create stronger market linkages that benefit communities and industry actors.

NiSA was established under the leadership of Palladium through the Climate Smart Jobs programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in collaboration with the Global Shea Alliance, TASLAF Advocates, the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries, and the International Trade Centre under the STAR project financed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency [KOICA].

Delivering a keynote address virtually, Amb. Rosa Malango, the Special Presidential Envoy on Tourism and Trade, hailed the launch as a significant milestone for women and communities who have long been custodians of Nilotica shea. “We have an opportunity to position shea and its products at the top of the sustainable tourism and trade value chain, promoting conservation and trade for otherwise marginalised communities,” she said, pledging her continued support to NiSA.

What makes Nilotica shea unique

Nilotica shea butter, also known as East African shea butter or shea Nilotica, is the rare cousin of West African shea butter. It is produced from the nuts of the Nilotica shea tree, which grows only in the remote savannahs of Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Traditionally, shea butter is handmade by women in rural villages and used as both food and cosmetic oil.

Because Northern Uganda was inaccessible for years due to the Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA] insurgency, and South Sudan remains difficult to access, Nilotica shea butter has remained relatively unknown internationally. Limited supply and minimal marketing have kept it a niche product despite its valuable properties and strong social impact.

Nilotica shea butter is naturally soft and creamy, with an ivory-yellow colour and a subtle, sweet, chocolate-like scent. Its high oleic acid content, up to 30 per cent more than West African shea, gives it a low melting point, meaning it transforms into oil upon contact with the skin. This balm-to-oil quality makes it highly sought after in premium skincare and cosmetic products.

In contrast, West African shea butter is typically harder, waxier and has a stronger scent, limiting its use in high-concentration cosmetic formulations.

Production process

The shea production season begins annually when the trees flower between January and March. By May to July, ripe fruits fall to the ground and are gathered by hand, mainly by women. After de-pulping the fruit, the nuts are dried, cracked and the kernels extracted. These are then sun-dried again and prepared for oil extraction. In Uganda, Nilotica production remains largely artisanal, with no chemical extraction used.

The three extraction methods are:

Traditional extraction:
Kernels are mixed with ash and roasted over a wood fire until brittle, pounded into powder, mixed with water and boiled for hours. Once cooled, oil rises to the top and is skimmed off. The result is a brown, strongly scented oil used locally for cooking, baby care and skincare, though less suited for cosmetics due to its strong aroma.

Mechanical extraction:
Roasted kernels are ground into powder and pressed manually to release oil. This produces a lightly coloured butter with a mild nutty scent, mainly for national and regional cosmetic markets.

Cold-press extraction:
Whole nuts are pressed without roasting or boiling. Temperatures remain below 70°C, preserving the butter’s bio-active compounds. The oil, initially golden, settles into an ivory-white butter. This method is preferred for international cosmetic markets.

Stakeholders and industry development

Since the end of the LRA insurgency, non-governmental organisations have recognised the Nilotica shea sector as a valuable income opportunity for women in Northern Uganda. The government has increasingly acknowledged its potential and is developing policies to expand income generation for rural women, create employment opportunities and boost foreign exchange earnings.

Recent multistakeholder initiatives, such as the Kidepo Critical Landscape project implemented through the Uganda Export Promotion Board [UEPB], have contributed to sector standardisation, including the development of Uganda National Bureau of Standards [UNBS] shea standards.

Conservation challenges

Conservation of shea trees is essential for maintaining long-term supply. Although global demand for shea products is estimated at around US$ 5.2 billion by 20230, shea trees, capable of bearing fruit for up to 200 years, are threatened by deforestation, putting livelihoods at risk, especially for women.

Despite ongoing developments in the industry, stakeholders had lacked a unified platform to coordinate efforts. NiSA now arrives at a critical moment to lead, harmonise and advance the sector.

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