1) Crop residues are important resources for smallholder farmers in East Africa but have competing uses that impact their availability and use for conservation agriculture practices. 2) The study found that crop residues from cereals like sorghum, teff and maize in the regions studied are predominantly used for animal feed rather than as mulch to cover soils. 3) Production and use of crop residues is constrained by factors like low soil fertility, high input costs, and lack of information. Ensuring sufficient crop residue production and promoting integrated farming approaches could help balance competing uses and increase soil cover for conservation agriculture.