News In Brief

Uganda Speaker Calls for Stronger Anticounterfeit Law

Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has urged lawmakers to expedite the passage of the Anticounterfeit Goods and Services (ACG&S) Bill 2023 before the end of the year. She emphasised the urgent need for stronger protections for consumers and legitimate businesses against the growing threat posed by counterfeit products.

She made this appeal during the Anticounterfeit Expo held at the Uganda Parliament in October. The event, organised by the Anticounterfeiting Network (ACN), aimed to raise awareness about the harmful impact of counterfeit goods. The expo’s theme, ‘Everyone is a Victim: Let’s Join Hands to Support the Passing of the Anticounterfeit Goods and Services Bill’, underscored the critical need for collective action to address the proliferation of fake products in Uganda’s market.

The ACG&S Bill seeks to strengthen Uganda’s legal framework for combating counterfeiting, as reports indicate that counterfeit products contribute to a staggering $2.3 billion loss to the Ugandan economy annually. Furthermore, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards has warned that 58% of products in the Ugandan market are counterfeit.