Shea nut (Vitellaria paradoxa-subspecies Nilotica) is a key non-timber forest product (NTFP) occurring largely in off-reserve forests in many parts of Africa, including South Sudan. Shea nut trees grow abundantly in West Nile, Northern and Eastern Uganda. Shea Nut trees provide shade, their fruit is edible, and the nuts are used for oil and food. The tree takes 18 to 25 years to fruit in the wild and can live for a long time, between 200 and 300 years. 

Shea Butter is also called “Women’s Gold” because extracting the butter from the nuts gives income to hundreds of thousands of rural African women.  Shea Butter has been an inherent part of African women’s way of life for centuries. Shea butter is now being used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, confectionery and as a substitute for cocoa in the chocolate industry.  Unfortunately, most of the trees are endangered because of charcoal burning since it produces the best charcoal. The charcoal burners and brick layers are ignorant of the sustainable income they can get from value addition of the Shea nuts into Shea butter.  

The Ugandan Shea Butter is the best quality globally according to the Institute for Shea Butter in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It is creamy, soft, silky and smooth with high oleic acid which contains most of the therapeutic substances and is liquid at warm ambient temperatures. It melts at body temperature and penetrates deep into skin delivering its vitamins and plant sterols where it is needed most. Shea Butter nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E, C and F. Vitamins A and E help maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy. They are particularly helpful for sun damaged skin and prevent premature wrinkles and facial lines. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and fights free radicals that cause cancer. Vitamin F acts as a skin protector and rejuvenator. It soothes rough, dry or chapped skin. These properties make Shea butter ideal for making sunscreens, body lotions, creams and hair moisturizers