Traders strike is not about PVoC

It is only on a few occasions that business/economic stories make it to the front pages of Uganda's national newspapers, unless it is scandal, the budget, electricity tariffs, oil and a strike by traders, et al. It is exciting - for me - when I get to see the largely ignored business stories making it to the front pages. So this week Ugandan traders went on strike - not for the first time - over the Pre-Export Verification Conformity to Standards Programme (PVoC). 

Amelia Kyambadde, Uganda's Trade Minister insists that " it [PVoC] would curb the entry of counterfeit, fake and substandard goods from entering the country." Uganda is no exception such goods making it past our secure but porous borders. Often, we've [journalists] written scathing headlines questioning what the Uganda National Bureau Of Standards (UNBS) is doing to deal with the influx. Well, the PVoC is part of the solution. Not so? 
Interestingly, the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) does agree, 

"We are consumers too, stocking adulterated and substandard goods amounts to us losing market for our goods, so in principle we are concerned.." [Ephraim Kaddu, KACITA's Secretary General in Today's New Vision]. 

There is a but though, 

"....However, the cost of PVoC very high and that affects the cost of doing business." 

Understandable, right? 

But before that, let me first complain about how Daily Monitor reported this story - sadly by quoting a police press statement that "drummed up support for PVoC."  Surely, why quote the police, yet their job is just keep law and order? How relevant are they in this story apart from sitting on the highly over-priced, run-down pick-up trucks, waiting for chaos erupt? Meanwhile, an anchor on NTV Uganda called it "PVoC tax," twice. Coverage in the dailies was pretty much the usual "she said, he said" - not exactly a bad thing - but perhaps, consumers were the missing link in all the stories.

Now, back to PVoC. The complaint by KACITA is about the charges - on inspection - that range from $235 to $2,375, fees they claim are too high and are advocating for flat rate. Explaining why - for the second day - their shops are under lock and key. The government is however not backing down, considering they've already procured services of three firms to carryout the inspection. 

"We are saying, let the goods conform to national standards. If you buy products of higher quality you cannot pay the same inspection fees as for other products [guess he meant lower quality goods] so it is your choice..." Ben Manyindo the UNBS ED told the New Vision newspaper. [Wednesday, June 26th, 2013]. 

The traders, sometimes hold this country by its balls at ransom, even when it is rather obvious that they are protecting their own interests. Traders - importers - are responsible for a huge influx of low quality goods that flood - a phrase liked by us [Journalists] - this country. Of course sometimes UNBS sleeps on the job due to - apparently - manpower issues. It is consumers usually pay the price when purchasing these fake, counterfeit and substandard goods. Consumers are also paying the price for using these "dumped" goods. 

If KACITA claims that the cost is too high, then why not pass it on to the consumer who wants the quality product and is willing to pay for it? As explained, if the quality of a product is low, the higher the cost of inspection. So then why not import high quality goods that are up-to the UNBS standards? It is unusual that traders are fighting the implementation of PVoC, unless of course they have something to hide. So dear traders, you have never hesitated to increase prices for obscure reasons, now here is a genuine reason, PVoC charges.  

Well, if what they want is a meeting with the President, they'll probably get it but like the previous strike against high interest rates, it may yield no tangible result for them - apart from tea and biscuits at State House. However, I will also not be surprised if a political decision [BOLD] is taken to reverse the implementation of PVoC. 

Some Ugandan companies have missed out on being suppliers [local content] to oil companies - Total E&P, Tullow, CNOOC - because they do not conform to national standards in general and international standards in particular. So these traders should stop serving Ugandan's with hot air as they strike. 

Uganda needs to stop being a dumping ground, but, it comes at price - PVoC

Listen; the trees and water are talking.

The water slaps the edges of a dry concrete wall creating a mark that slowly fades away after a few minutes. Every minute there is light water wave slapping the same wall. Inside the wall, men in orange overcoats and plastic like looking covers on their heads. Armed with wheelbarrows, iron bars, metals and steel the men work to add concrete for the wall to thicken and strengthen. Like little worker ants down below the ground that slowly build their empires creating castles to live. Obviously the forces of human nature trample on them to distort the way their way of life. They are the small ones and because man is such a bully, his wrath slowly drives the little ants away and they simply cannot retaliate. The ants only once in awhile invade peoples’ homes and sift through tonnes of crumbs. 

These ants will soon be deprived of simple vegetation 

The men with overcoats have are struggling other human beings happy. The men with their shovels, spades, cranes and caterpillars scooped land to divert the natural course of the river. This is a river with history and serves over five countries. The needs of human beings just like the ants are growing thus the utilisation of the vast resource to meet their needs. Lighting, computers, Smartphones, coolers, gaming consoles and movies are the needs. The men have to succumb to the pressure of human nature that has endless demands that are mostly likely never going to be satisfied. Even industrialisation has its demands, energy, energy and energy. Need I repeat that? The water has made its voice heard by refusing to increase but reducing. It has refused to evaporate and be part of a more stable ecosystem. And who is complaining of drought, scorched earth, dry water wells and shrinking rivers. Water is talking but no-one is hearing as the myth is that “water doesn’t talk.” 

This is a well in my village that no-longer fills to this level because rainfall has rebelled against us

In a small forest sweaty bare chested men with large see-saws singing happy life songs as they cut trees into small timber to sale on the local market. As the moon slowly sets in, trucks exit the forest with timber to sale to the real-estate dealers in the big town. On the other side, Charcoal prices have been souring making it lucrative business for a population where economic hardships have become a headline in the local media. A fertile nation like Uganda with over 30million (It is more than this) people, then their energy demands need to be matched. Soil erosion, mudslides, exhaustion, roofs flying off houses, unpredicted but harsh weather patterns and drought is the voice of tree talking to a dead end. 

Some of the trees planted by our family in the village

Little known to the active men and human nature is that their actions will be met with vast environmental misgivings. The energy demands by human nature often growing and depleting natural resources like water and forests have vast consequences mostly unknown or that they have no control over. The conflict between energy demands and the eminent challenges of Climate Change however that notwithstanding this crossroad has created more confusion than solutions. Solar Energy and other energy sources that clearly less harmless to our environment to mitigate the likely challenges of climate change, are still viewed by some as weak. Unknown to many, the despair of some, the environment has already reacted with changing weather patterns but what is more concerning, is that I see no urge or oomph to avoid the wrath of a rebelling environment.

Freshlyground for Uganda concert

Yet another live concert in Uganda and this time it is one of my favourite African band, Freshlyground. Another African act from the South African band, Freshlyground. They will be performing on the Ugandan stage on 11th December 2010. The show comes just a week after the American Jazz saxophonist Bobby Ricketts performed in Uganda. Earlier the same organisers Bohemia Concerts brought West African music sensation Salif Keita to the Ugandan stage too.

Freshlyground has seven band members that are from around South Africa, Mozambique and Mozambique and are usually referred to as an afro-fusion band. My favourite album is Nomvula for mostly the songs: Do-be-do, buttercup and I am the man. Do-be-do is one song I keep singing along while stuck in traffic or in order to feel good. Once you listen to it, please let me know what you think.

They have worked under the Sony BMG Records which shows how good they can get but most of all is their performances with the now deceased Miriam Makeba. They have also worked with the “todi” song sensation Oliver Mutukdzi plus the famous Femi Kuti. Now for a band that started in the early 2000’s this surely shows how good they are.

Ma’cheri their 2007 album is also quite interesting with my favourite Arms of Steel, Baby Tonight, Pink Confetti and Fired Up. In 2010 they also released another album called Radio Africa and ofcourse not forgetting their very first album Jika Jika. They have done various tours around the world and coming to Uganda lets hope the show will be worth it.

The challenges have be limited (or no) publicity these Bohemia concerts have had over the months, the lighting for the concerts has also been a little poor and finally my hope is that the show doesn’t get postponed like the Bobby Rickets show.

“We chose this band because that is what the East African community want according to the research we did. We have opinion formers who we send questionnaires when determine who next to bring and 65% of them said they wanted to some of the songs off world cup records and Freshly Ground with their Waka Waka were on top of the request,” said Desire Julia K Barugahare from Full Circle the local organisers told me this week.

She also added that for the festive season, let East Africa region should be merry and end the year in good merry mood.

“It is going to be one of those shows that they will remember for life and a good cap on 2010,” Julia added.

Freshlyground will be performing alongside “Deodato Siquir from Mozambique” and tickets will be sold for Ushs 80,000 in advance, 100,000 at the gate, 150,000 VIP from Uchumi Supermarket (Garden City), Quality Supermarket (Ntinda), Victoria Supermarket (Bugolobi)Cafe Javas, Good African Coffee (Lugogo). So be at Theatre Labonita on 11th December for this concert that I am optimistic will be fantastic.