Gov’t hands out motorbikes to boost local trade officers

___________________

The government has handed over motorcycles to commercial officers across the country to strengthen efforts to implement key programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.

Speaking at the handover ceremony at Simba Automotives in Kampala, state minister for trade Fredrick Gume said each district and city would receive one of the new motorcycles, which are intended to help officers carry out their work in cooperatives, trade, and local economic development.

The government has handed over motorcycles to commercial officers across the country to strengthen efforts to implement key programmes. (Photo by Ali Twaha)

“These are not boda-boda motorcycles,” Gume said as he warned officers against misuse. He said the bikes should not end up at drinking places or being ridden by unauthorised persons.

The commercial officers, who serve as the ministry’s frontline staff at the district level, are expected to use the motorcycles to support cooperatives, gather market intelligence, promote innovation and provide training to local businesses. Gume said the initiative was part of wider efforts to retool and empower officers to carry out their mandate more effectively.

A government study in 2008 found that officers were poorly resourced and not integrated into district development plans. This left them unable to promote trade, industry and cooperative activities at the local level.

Since then, government support has grown. In 2010, the ministry set up a conditional grant of sh108m, later boosted by European Union support under the Economic Partnership Agreement programme. The District Commercial Services Support project followed in 2012, aimed at building local capacity.

According to Gume, allocations for commercial officers have grown from sh2.23bn in 2019/20 to sh8.87bn in the current financial year.

Gabriel Atama, chief administrative officer, Tororo district making his speech at the ceremony. (Photo by Ali Twaha)

“If a district was receiving sh12m in FY 2024/25, beginning this year it is getting sh40m,” he said. About 7% of the allocation is earmarked for motorcycle maintenance, he said.

Richard Gabriel Atama, chief administrative officer, Tororo district, said support in the sensitisation of government programs among the communities.

The government is also seeking funds to provide laptops and office furniture for commercial officers, to improve data collection on programmes such as PDM and Emyooga.

Gume tied the initiative to Uganda’s broader economic ambitions, saying the government was committed to its goal of growing GDP tenfold by 2040, from $50bn to $500b.

“This calls for the mobilisation and building the capacity of farmers, traders, manufacturers, and cooperatives,” he said. “Retooling commercial officers is in the right direction since they are the frontline extension service providers.”