Published on 16/10/2024
Speaker Anita Among has called for urgent legislation to combat the growing threat of counterfeit products in Uganda.
Among highlighted the risks these fake goods pose to consumers’ health and safety, as well as the economic damage caused to legitimate businesses. Among noted that the absence of strong legal frameworks allows counterfeits to flood the market unchecked.
Among emphasized that swift action is needed to protect both citizens and the national economy. The proposed law aims to safeguard revenue streams and promote fair competition.
The Speaker made the remarks at an Anti-Counterfeit Expo taking place at Parliament on Wednesday, 16 October 2024.
She committed to oversee the speedy enactment of the Anti-Counterfeit Goods and Services Bill, 2024 on which Hon. Asuman Basalirwa (Jeema, Bugiri Municipality) is consulting to introduce as a private members’ legislation.
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“It is out of counterfeit products that people get sick and this explains the rise in cancer cases in the country and the accidents on our roads which can be attributed to the quality of tyres, break-pads, fuel,” she said.
She added, “you find people who are selling genuine things having to contend with others selling dangerous counterfeits at a cheaper price, causing tax distortions but also bringing unfair competition against the genuine manufacturers”.
The dangers of counterfeits, she said, does not spare President Yoweri Museveni’s crusade on value addition underscoring the urgency of the legislation to protect industrialisation.
“The adulterators must not take advantage of those engaged in value addition; this is why I call upon the Uganda National Bureau of Standards to conduct aggressive audits and bring down counterfeits,” she said.
Speaker Among tasked MP Basalirwa to expedite his consultative process and table the Bill in time for enactment by Parliament before the end of the year.
“You [Hon Basalirwa] said this Bill should be a Christmas gift to Ugandans; bring the Bill and have it tabled,” she said.
Basalirwa hailed efforts to enact the law as timely, saying the existing legal regime does not adequately address the counterfeits challenge.
“The existence of fake products on our markets across the board is alarming. The existing legal framework is insufficient to address counterfeits in Uganda; we have done the consultations countrywide and we are ready for first reading,” he said.
Lawyer Fred Muwema, who has been collaborating with Basalirwa on generating the Bill said Uganda is the only country in the region without a law on counterfeits.
“Counterfeits affect not only our well-being, but also our economy. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards issued a report that 58 per cent of the products on our market is fake; we are the only country in the region with no law on counterfeits,” he said.
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