MPs give foreigners in retail business three months to quit

Members of Parliament on the Trade, Industry and Cooperatives committee have given foreigners who are in the retail business a three-month ultimatum to either invest in bigger projects or return to their countries.

The decision was made yesterday during a meeting between the MPs and city traders after the latter petitioned Parliament about the influx of foreigners in retail business.

Legislators observed that whereas majority of foreigners, especially Chinese, come to Uganda as investors, majority of them have flocked Kikuubo and other urban centres for retail business, something the traders said, has affected Ugandan traders because they no longer make sales.

The committee chairperson, Mr John Bosco Lubyayi (Mawokota South) noted that as MPs, their salaries are drawn from taxing traders and that it would be inconsiderate for Parliament to watch on as their businesses collapse.

“We made an impromptu visit to Kikuubo and found out that the Chinese are financially torturing Ugandan traders because they sell merchandise at subsidised prices, making Ugandans stuck with theirs. This is very bad and they must become investors because that’s what their licenses read. In three months’ time, we need them out and we are going to compile a report and submit it to the President,” Mr Lubyayi said.

Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Nagayi accused the Trade ministry of failing to issue an order to stop foreigners from retail business.

The Monitor

UM– USEKE.RW