executive director, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Gideon Badagawa

The executive director, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Gideon Badagawa has decried the high certification fees for goods saying this has kept many new businesses off operation and now demands that government reduces on the fees so as to attract more businesses for the certification process.

Speaking at the opening of the annual trade facilitation expo recently at Lugogo, Badagwa mentions that the private sector carries the biggest national employment percentage standing at over 60% and if such huddles still exist in their way then they will not start up which will be reflected in low employment opportunities created for Ugandans leaving the country suffering with a high unemployment rate.

He further points out the decreasing markets where local products have been moving as now South Sudan among other markets have closed yet the local market cannot swallow the products produced.

However, the state minister for trade industry and cooperatives, Mike Werikhe says the ministry has set up a special desk to handle issues raised by SMEs with the aim of stimulating small businesses for sustainability.

The trade expo is geared at exposing SMEs to more business opportunities as well as creating business linkage with others.