President Yoweri Museveni has for a second round sent back the National Local Content Bill, 2022, to Parliament for amendment.
In a letter read by Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Museveni wants Clause 1(g) revised on grounds that it’s not practical the way it is now. He explains that each project partner has their own rulebook to follow.
This clause permits the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives negotiate local content in agreements as much as possible.
The current clause provides for companies funded through public borrowing or other similar arrangements.
The President says Clause 7 gives priority to goods and services already available in the market.He however wants locally made goods and services to be part of the East African Community Market. Museveni is cheering for Ugandan companies, to get a shot at contracts on the bigger stage.
The President has also got his eagle eye on Clause 11, and wants focus on giving Ugandan companies a good chance to compete for contracts.
This clause wants a minimum of 30 percent of public works to be subcontracted. But the President thinks this isn’t realistic.
The President also returned the Competition Bill, 2023. He wants changes in Clause 4, which sets up the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to run the bill.
The President thinks the bill should be run by the Ministry of Trade and not the new commission. He explained that the government has stopped combining things, and having the commission would cost money from the Consolidated Fund.
