Weak laws failing UNBS
Aug 05, 2011
THE current legal framework is encouraging the manufacturing of counterfeit goods, a parliamentary committee has heard.
By Joyce Namutebi
THE current legal framework is encouraging the manufacturing of counterfeit goods, a parliamentary committee has heard.
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) chief Terry Kahuma said the present laws were very weak, which encourages counterfeiting.
“There is a lot of illegal manufacturing in this country because we have taken long in amending the law to provide for harsh penalties,†Kahuma told the parliamentary committee on trade on Wednesday.
He stunned MPs when he said if one is caught making cosmetics illegally, he or she fine is fined about sh30,000.
“It is an encouragement to open up more factories for fake products. All factors are favourable for fake commodities to thrive in this country.â€
Kahuma also decried the chronic underfunding of the organisation. This financial year, UNBS had requested for sh18b, but only sh10.5b was approved, he said. He also explained that out of the required workforce of 527 people, they had only 240.
“We need to recruit, but we can’t do it.â€
Kahuma said UNBS is expected to be present in all towns, but does not even cover the whole of Kampala.
He noted that in Kenya and Tanzania, all industries contribute to their respective standards bodies. “The bureau of standard has to be empowered to do its job,†Kahuma said.
He pointed out that they are supposed to inspect all imports, but are present at only 16 border entry points out of the 52.
Kahuma had led a team from UNBS to respond to queries raised by MPs. Trade ministry permanent secretary ambassador Julius Onen attended.
Kahuma accused the Uganda Revenue Authority of not being co-operative on standards inspection. He said some radioactive goods were still being imported into Uganda because they had received “negative partnership with URA.†The tax body, he said, controls the borders.
Kahuma also accused the committee of lack of interest in UNBS affairs.
“This committee can change the whole scenario, especially if it invites the finance minister to explain why they have starved UNBS,†he advised.
MPs were concerned about fake items being imported into the country and those made locally. They said there was urgent need to stop the vice.
THE current legal framework is encouraging the manufacturing of counterfeit goods, a parliamentary committee has heard.
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) chief Terry Kahuma said the present laws were very weak, which encourages counterfeiting.
“There is a lot of illegal manufacturing in this country because we have taken long in amending the law to provide for harsh penalties,†Kahuma told the parliamentary committee on trade on Wednesday.
He stunned MPs when he said if one is caught making cosmetics illegally, he or she fine is fined about sh30,000.
“It is an encouragement to open up more factories for fake products. All factors are favourable for fake commodities to thrive in this country.â€
Kahuma also decried the chronic underfunding of the organisation. This financial year, UNBS had requested for sh18b, but only sh10.5b was approved, he said. He also explained that out of the required workforce of 527 people, they had only 240.
“We need to recruit, but we can’t do it.â€
Kahuma said UNBS is expected to be present in all towns, but does not even cover the whole of Kampala.
He noted that in Kenya and Tanzania, all industries contribute to their respective standards bodies. “The bureau of standard has to be empowered to do its job,†Kahuma said.
He pointed out that they are supposed to inspect all imports, but are present at only 16 border entry points out of the 52.
Kahuma had led a team from UNBS to respond to queries raised by MPs. Trade ministry permanent secretary ambassador Julius Onen attended.
Kahuma accused the Uganda Revenue Authority of not being co-operative on standards inspection. He said some radioactive goods were still being imported into Uganda because they had received “negative partnership with URA.†The tax body, he said, controls the borders.
Kahuma also accused the committee of lack of interest in UNBS affairs.
“This committee can change the whole scenario, especially if it invites the finance minister to explain why they have starved UNBS,†he advised.
MPs were concerned about fake items being imported into the country and those made locally. They said there was urgent need to stop the vice.