Minister of State for Industries, David Bahati
Government through the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives has announced plans to enact a consumer protection bill after several complaints from lawmakers about the many counterfeits that have flooded the Ugandan market.
Announcing the latest move was Minister of State for Industries, David Bahati during today’s plenary sitting while responding to a matter raised by Francis Mwijukye (Buhweju County) who asked Parliament to investigate companies awarded contracts to monitor standards of products on behalf of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UBOS).
Mwijukye said that in the estimated budget of Shs41Trn that would be run by Government, Shs6Trn would be lost through counterfeits, which calls for the need by Parliament to investigate the capacity of all these contracted companies and how effective they are in providing this service of giving out these certificates of conformity.
He said: “This is a threat to intellectual property, undermines legitimate business and they risk consumer health and safety. Of course given the weak regulatory framework, and mechanism coupled with moral decadence, this culture has continued.”
Minister Bahati replied saying that while Government is in the process of enacting a legislation to fight counterfeit products, UNBS is working to ensure products that go into the market, and also conduct enforcement and sampling of these products as well as educating Ugandans against purchasing products without UNBS conformity logo.
“We are working out the counterfeit and consumer protection bill, which will be coming to the house a few months from now. I think that will go a long way in having efforts to protect consumers and also ensure that products which are produced in this country are products of standard that humans can consume,” said Bahati.
However, the Minister’s response was rejected by some MPs like Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality) who cast doubt on Government’s intention to fight counterfeits.
He said, “In the 10th Parliament, there was a bill on counterfeits but cabinet withdrew the bill on the argument that there were already existing laws to deal with counterfeits we protested, but they didn’t listen. I am now surprised that now the Minister is saying there is an intended bill, it is actually not there.”
Jane Avur (Pachuto DWR) wondered what Ugandans should do in the meantime, while they wait for a legislation that may take months.
“How do we protect the consumer? When you go to kikuubo, one time I wanted to buy a padlock, they asked me whether I wanted a genuine one or fake one. A bill may take one month, but in the meantime, how do we protect Ugandans?” asked Avur.
Mourine Osoru (Arua City DWR) said that some of the companies trading in fake products are huge, citing UBL noting, “When you go to kikuubo, most of the fake products are from Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL), and we have fake products of Uganda waragi and John Walker.”
Deputy Speaker also rejected promise of a bill to adders counterfeits arguing that the only planned legislation on the vice is by a private member, and no notice has come from Government.
She said, “Let this go to the Committee of Trade and Tourism, we want to understand what do we do with these counterfeits products and when do we have the law to do that? I don’t want you to be misled that there is a bill coming, the bill that is coming is by a private member. Government hasn’t put an initiative in bringing this bill.”
Deputy Speaker forwarded the matter to Trade and Tourism Committee and ordered to report back to Parliament in two weeks.
