By Julius Mugaga,Mike Kasirye/ Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: As most women in business and trade in Africa struggle for market and other business-related issues, the Institute for Social Transformation, (IST) conducted a meeting with members of Uganda Parliamentary Women Association, (UWOPA), Uganda Revenue Authority, (URA), members from Customs and Uganda Women Network, (UWONET) with the aim of engaging on how to help women in trade and Business boost them to get markets for their products in both domestic and foreign markets across boarders.
Women are seen during the meeting. Photo by Mike Kasirye.
According to some women in business, they face issues of tax on their products, poor communication, sensitization, price fluctuation and at times their products go bad especially the perishables
In response, a team from Uganda Revenue Authority says, digitalizing tax payments, sensitization of women through all social media channels and community radios and tv stations and encouraging them to use legal routes across boarders will boost them.
Moureen Wagubi the Executive Director of Institute for Social Transformation, (IST). Photo by Mike Kasirye.
“There is an ongoing preparation to allow women to buy goods using their original currencies across boarders and most of the trade unions including COMESA have support for this.” URA Team.
Moureen Wagubi the Executive Director of Institute for Social Transformation, (IST) says, women have to be helped to do business by both government and other bodies, promote literacy and encourage local farmers to trade with urban farmers and even look for foreign markets for primary goods produced in Uganda.
Hon Sarah Opendi the Chairperson of Uganda Parliamentary Women Association, (UWOPA) pledged to combine with other members of parliament to advocate for support to women in business through empowering them, lobbying for market across boarders and other policies to support women in trade and Business.
Hon Sarah Opendi the Chairperson of Uganda Parliamentary Women Association, (UWOPA). Photo by Mike Kasirye.
She added that they will ensure awareness of cross-boarder trade policies and opportunities and barriers among women in informal business.
She also highlighted that URA has been overtaxing goods on boarders however, they have been asked to improve on sensitization such poor women especially in rural areas can access online portals.
These they deliberated during a breakfast meeting they had at Fairway Hotel on Thursday organised by The Institute for Social Transformation (IST).
ABOUT Institute for Social Transformation.
The Institute for Social Transformation (IST) is the East African home for Training for Transformation.
It is based in Uganda and spreading its services to the seven East African countries; namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It promotes the philosophy and practice of Paulo Freire.