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Unlocking Regional Trade: Uganda’s Competition Act 2024 and Its Implications on SME Cross-Border…
- Uganda signed a Framework Agreement with the COMESA Competition Commission to strengthen regional trade on June 12, 2025, alongside enacting the Competition Act 2024 and developing a Consumer Protection Bill.
- The Competition Act 2024 aims to regulate competition across all sectors in Uganda, addressing past gaps in anti-competitive practices and consumer protection.
- Administered by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, the Act focuses on anti-competitive practices, abuse of dominant position, and mergers affecting competition.
- Aligned with COMESA and EAC frameworks, the Act fosters efficiency, economic development, and fair pricing for consumers and producers, enhancing Uganda's role in regional trade integration.
- Key provisions in the Act, in synergy with COMESA, facilitate cross-border trade, including cooperation with regional regulators, merger notifications, and prohibition of anti-competitive practices.
- The Act's implementation enhances market access, streamlines regulatory processes, generates revenue, and aligns with regional goals, benefiting SMEs and cross-border traders.
- Challenges exist, such as dual notifications for cross-border transactions, requiring clear regulations to align with COMESA thresholds to avoid additional costs and delays.
- SMEs and cross-border traders benefit from a level playing field, access to regional markets, consumer trust growth, and increased investment opportunities under the Act.
- To succeed under the Act, businesses should understand notification requirements, monitor anti-competitive practices, leverage regional cooperation, stay informed on regulations, and build compliance capacity.
- Uganda's Competition Act 2024, coupled with COMESA's competition framework, transforms regional trade for SMEs and traders, creating opportunities for growth and economic prosperity in the $1 trillion COMESA market.
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