Traders stand to gain from genuine products

By Carolyne Muyama

It is Day Four today and city traders insist they will keep their shops closed albeit appeals from the Government to re-open as their concerns are looked into.

These negotiations according to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde are meant to harmonise the fee the traders are supposed to pay to have their goods inspected before they are transported from the country they have been purchased.

The traders are protesting the proposed Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards (PVoC). This arrangement aims to curb the entry of counterfeit and substandard goods from entering the country by inspecting them from their country of origin.

A first time importer is meant to pay 0.5% of the value of their merchandise while regular importers are to pay 0.45% and certified factories are to pay 0.2%. Whereas, the importers want a flat rate for all, UNBS argues that this is not possible as the technology used to inspect the merchandise varies with the kind the of merchandise.

The technology involved into detecting counterfeits is also expensive.

This is the only way Uganda can ensure products that come into the country are genuine and of good standard. From observation standard goods fetch more returns and loyalty from customers, which is the most important aspect of doing business. To be assured of customers that will come in time and again should not be taken for granted.

As a consumer, I will surely keep going back to the shop that has quality merchandise no matter the price because I know whatever I buy will last long and there will not be unexpected side effects from using such a product.

The few shops that sell genuine products around town are still in business, they are not out because someone next door has a ‘look alike’ of what they deal in. There are Ugandans who still go out there to buy genuine products because they know their value. Some have gone ahead to even purchase products online because this is the only way they are sure they are genuine.

Some consumers, however, have been duped buy some fraudulent traders who will insist they are selling something genuine yet it is a counterfeit. I have a problem with such people because they sell the product at the price of the genuine ones and they assure you it is the best.

There are so many duplicated products in Kampala from electronics to clothes, shoes, cosmetics, medicine and even consumables like tinned milk. It is sad that even milk meant for babies is also counterfeited. Such products come at a much lower price than the genuine ones and many Ugandans knowingly buy such products.

What the government is doing now is to save consumers from such fraudulent traders who don’t seem to care about their country. 

Some knowingly sell sub-standard baby milk to mothers and yet they know its effects. The fake phones that are gradually affecting the youths’ health should be done away with.  As it is, people will always resist change but when we finally have good products and people are spending less on the same product they will appreciate.

Uganda should not be a dumping ground. I support the rest of the East African community for demanding that Uganda stops accepting counterfeit goods, which finally end up in their countries.

This collective responsibility will go a long way in getting rid of counterfeit products in East Africa. Such efforts should be extended to other sectors like harmonising transport fees within the city centre.

The civil society that is concerned with counterfeits is now quiet. In fact I heard some say they are going to join the traders and demonstrate against the inspection fees. Whose interests are such groups representing?

As government holds talks to revise these fees as requested by some sections of the traders, the agenda should not be lost, no more counterfeits should come in. Efforts should be concentrated on getting rid of the one that already in the country.

The writer works with Uganda Media Centre