The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has launched an anti-counterfeit expo at Parliament, emphasising the need to combat counterfeit products that pose a significant threat to public health.
According to Among, "Counterfeit products may seem affordable initially, but they come with steep long-term costs."
She also revealed that Uganda loses approximately 2.3 trillion shillings annually due to the importation of substandard products, mainly through smuggling.
Among warned producers against exploiting value addition to produce fake goods and urged the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to conduct audits on manufacturers to ensure genuine products on the market.
Mover of the bill, Asuman Basalirwa, confirmed that the Anti-Counterfeit Goods Bill is ready for its first reading.
The bill proposes stringent penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those involved in counterfeiting.
Basalirwa emphasised that public consultations are crucial in gathering views from stakeholders to ensure effective legislation.
Legal advisor Fred Muwema described the bill as a "timely intervention" against counterfeits, which have been a challenge for over a decade.
Muwema also says with the anti-counterfeit expo and the impending bill, Uganda takes a significant step towards combating counterfeit products and protecting public health.
Muwema also acknowledged the technical support of the International senior lawyers Project (ISLP) delivered through White and Case LLP for the excellent peer review of the draft Anti- Counterfeit Bill 2023
