TRADE MINISTRY ON SPOT OVER UNFAIR BUSINESS GROUND
By Dramadri Federick
Arua City
Traders in Arua city have criticized Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives for not effectively regulating the operations of the investors and foreign trades who interfere with the supply chain with the business sector.
According to the traders, the several manufacturing industries have swallowed up all the supply chain to the retailers pushing local traders out of businesses.
Speaking during the dissemination exercise of the Trade Licensing amendment Act 2015 and the new tax rates for urban authorities at the city council hall, the traders expressed their frustrations over the unfavorable completion provided by investors of Indian and Chinese origin who are said to be participating in both whole sale and retail businesses including hawking.
Malik Drakuma the Arua central division Town clerk wonders why the trade ministry continues to centralize licensing processes of the investors yet their activities are affecting local governments and local traders.
On the other hand Judith Bako the Arua city central division Assistant RCC demands for an accountability for the funds collected by the ministry for licensing the traders who deal in bulk businesses.
In response, Zackey Kalega the commissioner department of internal trade in the ministry of Trade and cooperatives explained that the ministry is doing what it takes to address the matter.
On February 21, 2024, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives Geraldine Ssali , the issued a circular on the irregularity of licensing non-citizens to do hawking businesses to all town clerks, district chairpersons, Chief Administrative officers and Mayors describing the Act illegal and contrary to the Cap 101 of the trade licensing Act 2015 as Amended.
According to Ministry of Trade statistics, China is Uganda’s second largest source of imports, after India, and second largest source of foreign direct investment, a total of $9.8 billion since 1993 according to the Uganda Investment Authority.
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