Uganda Roundup: Foreign sanctions, competition laws, ban on pork joints
UK and USA sanctions
The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Ugandan government officials, including the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among over allegations of corruption and human rights violations. The government is conducting its investigations into the allegations and maintains that its relationships with the UK and US remain strong. Corruption and impunity are acknowledged as major challenges in Uganda, with significant economic losses attributed to corruption, The East African reports.
Competition laws
Kenya's competition watchdog aims to auction off properties of companies found in violation of competition laws and facing fines. This could impact Ugandan businesses with Kenyan subsidiaries, as well as those with parent companies in Kenya. The Competition Authority of Kenya is considering new amendments to enforce compliance and collect fines. The base fine for violations is 10% of annual turnover, with fines totalling $118,143 in 2023, according to the Monitor. The Authority is seeking feedback on the draft Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and plans to hold a forum in June. Uganda recently established its first national competition law, the Competition Act, 2023.
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Pork joint ban
The UK has imposed sanctions on Ugandan pork joint owners, targeting them for their role in creating bad leadership in the country. The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes, with the UK citing corruption and the negative impact of excessive pork consumption. According to the Monitor, this is the first time the UK has used sanctions on pork joint owners in Uganda, and it follows previous sanctions on individuals involved in similar activities globally. The move has sparked criticism from the affected pork joint owners in Kampala, who see it as neo-colonial politics. In retaliation, some pork joint owners are considering burning down their joints.
Meritocratic principles
The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) is aiming to implement meritocratic principles in the current leadership structure to fight corruption and lead the nation to economic prosperity. They are attracting support from moderates and are focused on bringing in skilled leaders to make necessary reforms. The PLU needs to appeal to more moderates but is confident in its ability to lead the country in the future, the Monitor reports
Officials against UK-USA sanctions
The United States has sanctioned Ugandan public officials, including Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and military leaders, for corruption and human rights violations. The UK had previously announced similar sanctions. However, according to the ICT and National Guidance minister, Chris Baryomunsi, the recent sanctions slapped on Ugandan officials are irregular and uncalled for. “It’s not the UK or the US to fight corruption for us. As a government, we do fight corruption But also, we don`t act by impulse, because social media or the media has reported it. We investigate, we adduce evidence, and we take actions, so which evidence does the US government or the UK government have,’’ Baryomunsi said in an interview with Monitor.
