The Ugandan government is to enact tougher law to punish dealers in counterfeit and substandard products, which are currently dominating the market, an official said.
Gagawala Wambuzi, the minister of state for trade was quoted by Daily Monitor on Wednesday saying the Counterfeit Goods Bill, 2007, is now before cabinet and will later be taken to parliament for approval.
"We are bringing in (tougher) laws because sometimes we need them," said Wambuzi.
The move comes at a time when there is increasing counterfeit and substandard products on the Ugandan market. They include building materials, radio and television sets, bed sheets, electric items, shoe polish, toothpaste and even foods such as rice.
The new bill proposes heavy penalties for dealers in goods that are either substandard or outright counterfeits.
Section 16 of the bill says it is an offense to manufacture, produce or make, in the course of trade, any counterfeit goods.
Upon conviction for first time offense, one shall be punished with a fine not less than three times the value of the prevailing retail price of the goods, or to serve a jail term not less than three years, or both.
In case of a second or any subsequent conviction, the offender shall be fined not less than five times the value of the prevailing retail price of the goods, or to serve a term not less than five years, or both.
The current law, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, 1983, punishes the dealers of counterfeits with a jail term not more than a year or a fine of 10,000 shillings (6 U.S. dollars), while a second offense only fetches 18 months in jail or a fine not exceeding 20,000 shillings (12 dollars) or both.
Source: Xinhua
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