Anti-counterfeits campaign launched

ANTI-COUNTERFEITS|CAMPAIGN 

The Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN) and Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFF) have launched a partnership to fight fake agriculture inputs on the market.

Fred Muwema, the director of legal and corporate affairs at ACN Speaking at the launch of the partnership in Kampala said they will work to awaken consumers and decision makers on their role in combating counterfeits.

He disclosed that the intervention will help in pushing back the devastating health, economic and social effects of counterfeits in society.

"It's unfortunate that counterfeiters have touched the area of food which is a very sensitive and most import aspect of human survival and existence," Said Muwema.

Through use of technology, Mwema said they will trace and make sure that culprits are taken to courts of law and charged.

"The culprits must be heavily pushed so that others learn from them," Mwema emphasised.

According to Mwema, they will ensure that stringent bylaws are passed at the grass root level in all the districts so that culprits are punished. In this, he said the plan is to engage with the local authorities and prosecutors' office.

The chief executive officer (UNFF) Kenneth Katungisa said empowering farmers is very critical because they are the end users of the fake products therefore they need to know.

The partnership according to Katungisa is to increase awareness among the public, regulators and consumers about the disastrous health and economic dangers of counterfeits.

Katungisa added that with fake agriculture inputs still on the market, Uganda will not reach the target of 20 million bags of coffee by 2025 which is a critical export commodity.

"There is a saying that garbage in, garbage out if you put garbage in the soil, you can't get gold out of it," Katungisa said.

He added; "We shall work together to develop multifaceted strategies to address the driving factors for counterfeit such as consumer ignorance, inability to distinguish between genuine and fake farm inputs."

Katungisa revealed that they will create awareness on the dangers of counterfeiting, psychosocial factors in terms of behavior change, and bridging the gap between the key multiple sector stakeholders.

"By pushing back counterfeiting, the agriculture sector will benefit the national economy by attracting international investment," he said.