Students' involvement in investment negotiations is key

By Francis Emorut

KAMPALA  - University students have been urged to get involved in negotiations of trade, bilateral and investment agreements rather than leaving it to technocrats and politicians.

“Because your voices are not heard, interested parties will take advantage to negotiate trade and investment agreements that serve their interests and you are left out,” Jane Nalunga, the country director of SEATINI-Uganda told students in Kampala.

SEATINI-Uganda is a sub-regional NGO working on issues of trade and development.

According to its country director, multinationals have vested interest in negotiating trade agreements that will benefit their organizations and countries at large.

“Any company wants to maximize profits but the role of government is to make sure people benefit,” she said, underlining that some agreements are outrageous and therefore need for citizens involvement.

Some of the agreements Uganda has been involved in negotiations include Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAC), the US-East African Community Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement.

Nalunga was speaking during a students’ dialogue on the importance of democratizing trade and investment negotiation process for a people-centred development at Makerere Business School in Kampala.

Hijacking deals

The dialogue was held under the theme: “Why the youth should be concerned about bilateral trade and investment negotiations and agreements.”
 

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Students were told to engage themselves in negotiations of investment agreements. PHOTO/Francis Emorut

The dialogue was organized by SEATINI-Uganda and was aimed at raising awareness on the role of state and citizens in shaping and developing pro development trade and investment negotiations positions.

It also looked to igniting debate among the youth on their role in influencing trade and trade-related policy positions.

Meanwhile, Nalunga blamed politicians for hijacking the process of negotiating trade and investments agreements instead of the experts.

Ambassador Nathan Irumba, the regional director of SEATINI-East Africa observed that international systems dominate the decision-making process of trade and investment agreements because they are the major economies.

He cited the US, Japan, European Union and Canada as major economies.

“Although the rules are supposed to be fair, they are lopsided, supporting the interest of developed countries,” he said.

The head of department for marketing and international business at Makerere Business School, Dr. Timothy Esemu, stressed the importance of involving as many people as possible in trade agreements negotiations because “it affects our lives”.

He appealed to government to invest in knowledge and technology because aspects of trade negotiations are knowledge intensive.

Students, on their part, blamed African leaders for not resisting the foreign influence in trade and investment agreement negotiations.

“African leaders should resist policies at initial stages before they materialize,” opined Habert Begumya.

Another student – Anyole Gubazi – criticized what he called the “selling” of the country because of money. “How can 375 MPs decide for 34 million Ugandans if they are not interested in selling our country for money?”

Lenon Kizito advocated for the strengthening of regional bodies like ECOWAS.