Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda government has been commended for supporting recovery of business activities but more efforts needs to be done to have meaningful impact to the micro and small scale entrepreneurs, according to Joanita Nassuna, the Program Associate in charge of women and economic justice …
Read More »Traders slam Uganda, Rwanda over partial border reopening
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Trade rights advocates in the region have decided not to withdraw their case against the governments of Uganda and Rwanda over the closure of the border almost three years ago, even after Rwanda announced it was re-opening it. Rather, the groups, the Eastern African Sub-Regional …
Read More »Inside Africa’s development dilemma
The dark side of African Continental Free Trade Area Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Africa’s heads of state on March 21, 2018 descended onto the hills of Kigali, Rwanda, to sign the long awaited agreement to create the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) that encompasses more than 1.2billion …
Read More »Coffee farmers push for better prices and policies
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Coffee farmers now have a new opportunity to increase production and benefit across the value chain, thanks to a new project fronted by the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI). The project dubbed fair-for-all, improving coffee value chains in Uganda seeks to …
Read More »Incorporate business and human rights into national investment legal frameworks, government told
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda needs to incorporate guiding principles on business and human rights into the national investment regulatory frameworks to strike balance between the investor rights and the state, according to Jane Nalunga, the Executive Director at the Southern and Eastern African Trade Institute –SEATINI Uganda. Nalunga, who …
Read More »Invest Shs1.2tn IMF money in Covid-19 fight – CSOs
The group wants government to open up on the plan for this cash Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government needs to open up on the recent allocation of the Shs1.2trillion International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and invest in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic to boost economic recovery, …
Read More »Investors in extractive sector don’t need incentives- tax expert
But government technocrats disagree saying there are objectives in doing so Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Investments in the extractive sector has become the next big thing in the East African region but there are concerns that the governments could extend huge tax incentives like they have done in …
Read More »DR Congo joining the East African Community
Is Tshisekedi dangling an economic deal for non-economic reasons? Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Felix Tshisekedi has been busy on the regional integration front since he became president of the Democratic Republic of Congo two years ago. But he has particularly been busier this year. On June 25, President Tshisekedi …
Read More »Covid-19 lockdowns, differences in tax policies complicates trade in EAC bloc
Experts, government suggest ways to easing trade among partner states Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | There is a growing concern amongst the business community that the COVID-19 lockdown measures are a danger to business activities, and if not carefully eased, could make the situation worse going forward. This is …
Read More »Tanzania wants new EAC rules
Experts say regional body is ‘club of suspicious people’ Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania’s recent call for the evaluation of the East African Community legal instruments to reflect current times has elicited mixed reactions among regional analysts. When President Suluhu recently met top …
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