Norah Owaraga

Bank of Uganda weak control of lending rates

While, in 2013, commercial banks reduced their lending rates, it seems that none have reduced them back to the original rates pre-2011. This status quo does not facilitate improvement in the food security situation of Ugandans.

Ugandans net buyers of food so control prices

The most appropriate policies for Uganda, it would follow, would be those that ensure that food prices in Uganda are controlled so that Ugandans are able to buy food at any given time.

Fiscal policy favors imports over nationally produced

The GOU favours foreigners in form of open access to the Ugandan market, while it has not done enough to protect the internal market share for its domestically made products. In a bid to attract the so-called foreign ‘investors’ they are given very lucrative tax incentives.

Opportunity cost of costly parliament

Originally posted on the Humanist view: Agriculture is Uganda’s global comparative advantage, it is a primary economic growth driver and it is key in ensuring food and nutrition security for Ugandans. The budget 2014/2015 plans to increase food production costs through increased taxation – agricultural inputs will be heavily taxed. The taxes on hoes are…