The Commission has undertaken pre-enactment advocacy for the Competition Bill, 2022. The Competition Bill, is intended to promote and sustain fair competition in markets and prevent practices having an adverse effect on competition. The primary goal of the Bill is to control anti- competitive behaviour of firms that have a negative impact on competition, encourage competition, and safeguard and protect consumers. The Bill establishes a comprehensive legal regime on competition in Uganda.
The Competition Bill was tabled before Parliament and is being considered by the Committee on Trade, Tourism, and Industry.
The advocacy targeted members of Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Tourism, and Industry, technocrats from government ministries, agencies and departments, private sector and duty bears.
The advocacy was intended to popularise the provisions of the Competition Bill, 2022 and fast track its enactment. Specifically, the pre-enactment advocacy was intended to:
- provide information to members of Parliament on the provisions, spirit and purpose of the bill;
- enable members of Parliament to note stakeholder concerns with the bill and make comments to facilitate effective implementation when the bill is enacted into law;
- increase awareness levels of the provisions of the bill, among members of parliament and stakeholders;
- Advocate for the quick passage of the Bill.
The provisions of the Competition Bill include:
- establishment of a technical Committee on competition and consumer protection in the Ministry of trade;
- prohibition of anti-competitive practices and agreement which cause or are likely to cause an adverse effect on competition in the market;
- prohibition of abuse of dominate positions by enterprises based on their economic strength to strife other enterprises from competing in the relevant market;
- regulation of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures by prohibiting mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures without giving notice to the Minister;
- prohibition of enterprises with dominant positions from imposing unfairly high or low prices, limiting production, discriminating consumers or suppliers based on non-commercial criteria, nationality or place of residence; and
- provisions for offences and penalties for contravention of the provisions of the Act.
PRE-ENACTMENT ADVOCACY ON THE COMPETITION BILL -CONCEPT PAPER
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