By Kezekiah Mbogo Jr
An official in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, has urged the district commercials officers drawn from Eastern and Northern Districts of Uganda to promote BUBU policy to improve standard of Ugandans products. Oule David Epyanu, the principal Commercial officer said this during a networking conference under the theme “Sustainable Micro-small-and Medium-Enterprise [MSMES] and cooperatives for competitive trade and accelerated industrial development, the roles of district commercial officers” at Wash and Wills hotel. He explained that the prime objective was to up-date commercial officers on the new commercial services budgeting guidelines and reporting mechanism to enable them deliver on the sector mandate and also to share the ministry data collection tool with DCOs. It was also intended to identify challenges faced by DCOs during activity implementation and as well share knowledge and experiences on the operationalization of the department of commercial services and local economic development.“We want Ugandans to promote the consumption of locally produced goods and services [guide to stimulate processing of local products].The sector agree that some of the products have not met the required standard, and as ministry in partnership with the private sector, we are working towards ensuring that the standards improve,” he said. He explained that the BUBU policy is to change the mindset and attitude of Ugandans towards locally produced goods and services. “This is intended to promote domestic consumption,” he added. “This will also create jobs through this policy as the economy grows by Ugandans embracing the BUBU policy.”The policy supports the production, purchase, supply and consumption of local goods and services but also support the private sector in the development and marketing of Ugandan brands and creating awareness. He also singled out challenges and among them is poor quality of locally produced products, poor branding, poor packaging, high cost of finance to support local producers and suppliers, consumer low perception and attitude towards locally produced goods, inadequate skills for business development and growth.This, according to Mr Epyanu, is the reason the ministry is bringing together key officers implementing the commercial services value chain and new developments in the sector to enhance service delivery in policy priority areas.The regional networking conference attracted the district and Municipal commercial officers as well district production officers targeting 176 officers. Fredrick Kasozi, Assistant Commissioner-Internal trade in the Ministry of Trade and Industry said that the policy will enhance and stimulate investments and opportunities that will promote sustainable growth in local governments and also increase household incomes.
