By AMOS NGWOMOYA
In Summary
Uganda has given foreigners operating retail outlets in
Kampala a three-month ultimatum to either invest in bigger businesses or
return to their home countries.
The decision was reached Monday during a meeting between the
members of the parliamentary Trade, Industry and Cooperatives committee
and Kampala traders after the latter petitioned Parliament about the
influx of foreigners in retail business.
Legislators observed that whereas majority of foreigners,
especially the Chinese, come to Uganda as investors, majority of them
are jostling for customers with local traders in Kikuubo, one of the
trading centres in downtown Kampala, and other urban centres, driving
the Ugandans out of business with cheaper merchandise imported from
China.
“We made an impromptu visit to Kikuubo and found out that the
Chinese are financially torturing Ugandan traders because they sell
merchandise at subsidised prices, making Ugandans stuck with theirs.
This is very bad and they must become investors because that’s what
their licenses read. In three months’ time, we need them out and we are
going to compile a report and submit it to the President,” the committee
chairperson, Mr John Bosco Lubyayi said.
Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Nagayi accused the Trade ministry of failing to issue an order to stop foreigners from retail business.
Ugandan traders have in the past gone on strike to protest the influx of Chinese into the retail business.
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