MP Basalirwa kick-offs public consultations on Anti-Counterfeits Bill

By Francis Lubega

14^th March 2024

The Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament Asuman Basalirwa says he is to begin public consultations into the Anti-Counterfeits Bill 2023.  

In July 2023, Basalirwa succeeded in securing leave of Parliament to allow him to introduce “The Anti-Counterfeit Bill, 2023.”

The object of the law is to pro­hibit trade in goods that in­fringe upon pro­tected in­tel­lec­tual prop­erty rights; to re­quire in­tel­lec­tual prop­erty rights to cover only copy­right and trade­marks and to pro­hibit re­lease of coun­ter­feit goods for commercial gains.

Basalirwa revealed that consultations shall last three months beginning April 2024, and will take place at selected locations in the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions of Uganda.

The motion for the introduction of the Bill was seconded by Soroti City West Division MP, Jonathan Ebwalu, and Derrick Orone of Gogonyo Constituency.

Basalirwa then told Parliament that the country needed the proposed law to fight against the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated goods and services into the market.

The distribution of counterfeits according to Basalirwa was undermining legitimate trade and was causing significant financial losses for rights holders and, in some cases, providing a source of revenue for organized crime.

Basalirwa explained that the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms for intellectual property rights holders has negatively affected the exploitation of intellectual property rights and reversed the gains made by Uganda in the registration, creation, and exploitation of intellectual property rights.

The lawyer-turned politician has secured the backing of the Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN) in promoting public consultations   Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN) Africa is a private sector organization that aims to bridge the intervention gaps between the multiple stakeholders that affect and are affected by counterfeits and parallel importation.

Basalirwa and Fred Muwema, Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Network Africa addressed the press where they said the Anti-Counterfeits Bill is a timely intervention against counterfeits which has been in the waiting for more than 10 years.

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