Papyrus Reed Mat – Traditional Uganda Woven Craft

The papyrus reed mat is one of Uganda’s most ancient and enduring traditional crafts. Woven by hand from papyrus reeds harvested from the wetlands and shores of Lake Victoria and Uganda’s many rivers, these flat mats are used as floor coverings, sleeping mats, table runners, and wall decorations throughout the country.

Uganda and Papyrus

Uganda is home to vast papyrus wetlands – the same plant used by ancient Egyptians to make their famous papyrus paper. The shores of Lake Victoria and the Nile River basin are blanketed in thick stands of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), providing an abundant and renewable raw material for local weavers.

Papyrus mat weaving is practiced predominantly by women in rural fishing communities along the lake shore. The craft is deeply woven into local identity – in many Ugandan languages, the word for mat and the word for home are closely related, reflecting how central the craft has been to domestic life.

How Papyrus Mats Are Made

Papyrus stems are harvested, dried in the sun until golden-brown, and then stripped and split into flat ribbons. Weavers use a simple over-under plaiting technique to create flat panels of tightly interlocked reeds. Natural plant dyes – including indigo, sorghum husk, and bark extracts – are used to add stripe and check patterns in earthy tones.

Types and Uses

• Floor mats (60 x 90 cm) – ideal as yoga mats, doorstep mats, or room rugs
• Table runners and placemats – woven in narrow strips with decorative borders
• Wall hangings – framed panels used as natural wall decor
• Storage baskets – smaller woven containers with papyrus lids

Prices from $5 to $20 USD. Available at Kampala markets and craft cooperatives. See all Uganda crafts here.