The Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policy launched in March this year will improve the standard of goods and services produced in the country, Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde has said.
The minister made the remarks as she hosted the New York State Judge Frank J. LaBuda at her offices in Kampala to discuss issues pertaining to development of trade related legal and regulatory framework.
“We want Ugandans to stop referring to Ugandan brands as the inferior brands. We agree that some of them are not yet there when it comes to meeting the required standards, and as Government in partnership with the private sector, we are working towards ensuring that the standards of our products and services improve,” said Kyambadde.
The Minister said that the ultimate goal for BUBU is to change the mindset and attitude of Ugandans towards locally produced goods and services. “Trade starts at home before it goes regional and international, and it is the reason why Government is promoting domestic consumption,” she added.
Government hopes to create jobs through this policy as the economy grows by way of Ugandans consuming the goods and services produced in the country. President Museveni has always argued that buying foreign goods gives the exporting countries chance to create jobs for their people at the expense of Ugandans.
According to the minister, the BUBU policy supports the production, purchase, supply and consumption of local goods and services but also supports the private sector in the development and marketing of Ugandan brands and creating awareness.
Judge LaBudda said that Uganda was on the right track in implementing the BUBU policy which is similar to USA’s campaign ‘Buy American Hire America’.
“The Buy American Hire American campaign has helped US to address the problem of companies that were outsourcing only foreign workers, rendering many Americans jobless,” said Justice LaBuda.
The Buy American Hire American campaign is an executive order that was signed by President Donald Trump with an aim of cracking down on skilled worker visa abuse and forcing US government agencies to buy more domestically produced products.
The two officials also discussed issues on policy formulation, specifically on the management of local content policies and shared experiences on the procedures of developing Government policies, with Justice LaBuda urging the Ugandan bureaucrats to formulate policies within the shortest time possible. She also noted that ‘longer processes kill business’.
Justice LaBuda was in Uganda to undertake a number of judicial related activities and to monitor the activities of Incredible Youth International, an NGO affiliated to Victoria University that is owned by billionaire businessman Sudhir Ruparelia.
