The Uganda Parliament has passed the long awaited National Local Content Bill, 2019 which prioritises Ugandan citizens and companies in procurement and award of contracts to develop local capacity and create jobs .
The Local Content law the first to be passed by parliament was supported by the majority members of parliament cross the political divide .
“As a way of creating employment, protecting our economy and people, a foreign investor will be required to hire 100% Ugandans for its unskilled labour force and 60% Ugandans for its skilled labour”, Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga said after presiding over a session in which the bill was enacted into law.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that we have the capacity to grow import substitution by local innovations and adaptations. I urge our entrepreneurs to up their game and ensure we produce goods and services of the highest quality,” she added.
According to Mr. Sam Lyomoki one of the workers representatives in parliament , the Mps succeeded to include in the new law provisions on decent work labour standards . This means that all companies contracted by the government of Uganda or benefiting from any loan must recognize labour unions.
“This is going to resolve the challenge of blatant violation of rights of workers. Labour unions are alerted to take advantage of this new milestone ,” Lyomoki said.
