By Patrick Jaramogi
Uganda needs urgent plans in trade and economic issues that it seeks to discuss as a nation ahead of the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) due in Nairobi Kenya in July, trade experts have advised. Experts have also called for urgent attention regarding the failure by Uganda to host global conferences.
UNCTAD was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body with a mandate of promoting equitable integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD serves as the focal point within the United Nations secretariat for all matters related to trade, investment, finance and development in an integrated manner.
The trade experts who were meeting at Metropole Hotel during a breakfast meeting organised by Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda, noted that Uganda is currently facing challenges of high unemployment rates coupled with growth in trade deficit need to achieve more by attending the UNCTAD conference.
In order to achieve its mandate, UNCTAD holds quadrennial conferences where the 194 member states assess current trade and development issues, discuss policy issues and formulate global policy issues.
Siraj Wakabi a senior commercial officer in the Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives said Uganda as a country was ready to take part in UNCTAD XIV. “The forthcoming UNCTAD due in Nairobi Kenya in July will form a basis for inter-region deliberations. Wakabi observed that Uganda would be looking forward to benefiting more and adding more to the UNCTAD technical support accorded to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) under the ASCUDA project.
He urged the civil society organizations and academia in Uganda to join hands with the ministry of Trade to attend the conference whose theme is “From decision to action” to steer global trade negotiations. “Uganda is set to benefit a lot as a nation in terms of trade related issues if it attends this meeting. The ministry has organised consultative meetings to discuss with various stakeholders ahead of the Nairobi meeting,’ said Wakabi
Jane Nnalunga the Country Director Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda, noted with concern why Uganda was missing out regarding hosting of such global conferences. “I feel sad, why is it that all these big global meetings are now being held in Nairobi and not Kampala? Kenya is minting money from hosting such conferences as Uganda loses out,” said Nalunga.
Last Year Kenya hosted the 10th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Inter-ministerial conference. It is also remembered for hosting the global Youth Entreprenueshiop summit that was attended by US president Barack Obama. Similary this year apart fromn hosting the XIV UNCTAD conference, Kenya is also set to host the ICT4D Global summit in May, as well as the Africa Green Revolution (AGRA) 2016 forum on top of others.
Nalunga told the participants that Uganda should highlight key priorities areas in the areas of trade negotiations that need to be tackled. “We need to uses this UNCTAD meeting to address the challenges that Uganda is facing in trade related issues,” she said. She said mechanisms should be instituted to make Uganda attract such global meetings.
Makerere University don, Prof. Ndebesa Mwambutysa castigated the parliamentarians for not doing much when it comes to issues of ratifying global trade issues. ‘We must appreciate that taking part in such meetings has a great bearing on the wellbeing of the citizens,” said Ndebesa.
Ambassador Nathan Irumba the Chief Executive Director SEATINI who gave a paper on the Global trade dynamics and implications on the role of UNCTAD in promoting sustainable Development noted that there was a not still at play in such conferences. ‘UNCTAD played a key role in identifying the Least Developed Countries but this was way back in the 80s (1980s),”
Henry Richard Kimera, the Team Leader Consumer Education Trust (CONSENT) implored government negotiators going for UNCTAD to address issues of consumer protection.
Agnes Kirabo the Executive Director Food Rights Alliance noted that the debate during the meeting should be steered towards effecting the sustainable development