Trade policy is not an event. It is a journey of ideas, people, and persistence. Over the past fifteen years, I have had the privilege of witnessing Uganda’s trade policy landscape evolve. The landscape was shaped by men and women who sat where I sit. Among these milestones, the Competition Law, 2023 stands out to me. It is not only a professional achievement but also a personal lesson in process and purpose.

I often reflect on how this journey began. It started long before I ever analyzed a policy brief. As a young professional, I never imagined that someday I would shape the very frameworks I once studied. Today, looking back, I understand how each stage from drafting to stakeholder engagement was significant. The final assent by the President was a master class that changed how I perceive my assignment.

The story of Uganda’s Competition Law is not just a policy milestone. It reminds us that effective policy results from collaboration, persistence, and commitment. Those who believe in the power of fair markets drive these efforts.

The Beginning

The Competition Law began with many men and women. I may never know their names. Their profiles may never appear on the walls of fame. Yet their ideas and dedication laid the foundation for what would become a defining piece of Uganda’s trade development. Recently, two sisters walked into my office. They were seeking to trace records of their late father’s contribution to the trade sector. This was a service rendered long before I ever joined the field. Could he have been one of those men whose names are not enshrined on the wall of fame? A deep reflection on that encounter reminded me of something important. Our task today is to serve diligently. We must carry forward the purpose and legacy built by those who came before us.

Like in a relay race, the Competition Bill baton was passed. I found myself running alongside others, aware that the race had started long before me and would continue long after. I first encountered the Competition Bill during my assignment as a Project Officer under the EU-funded Regional Integration Implementation Project. At first, the process seemed entirely new to me and many others on the team. Yet, as I researched deeper, I discovered its roots stretched back to 2007.

I engaged in stakeholder consultations. I participated in the review of guiding principles. I witnessed the shaping of ideas that would become the backbone of the Law. Each step was a lesson. I learned to value the unseen work of those who came before and those with me. That experience shaped my understanding of policy. It also built my appreciation for process and consultation. The research lessons continue to guide my professional and spiritual journey today.

Lessons from the Past

I also came to realize that my first encounter with “competition” didn’t happen in a classroom. It was modeled by the elders in my community. Long before the law was debated in boardrooms, our parents practiced the principles of fairness in their everyday lives. They knew what it meant to confront unfair competition, even without calling it that. They lived the spirit of the law before it ever had a Policy name.

From the Competition Law, I learned that purpose doesn’t always start with me. Yet it will always require my faithfulness to carry it forward.

When Purpose Takes Time

Today, in 2025, Uganda is awaiting the full implementation of the Competition Law through its Regulations. I have come to appreciate that Policies take time. Sometimes years, or even sometimes decades. Yet when the appointed time comes, everything ideas, people, and opportunities align perfectly, just as God ordained.

If you are reading this and feeling unseen, remember this: You do not have to be loud to be heard. You don’t have to rush what God is maturing.

The idea you are nurturing today shall one day transform Uganda’s economy. It will sustain families and shape industries. It will also give every Ugandan a reason to stand tall and thank their Creator.

The Legacy of the Law

The Competition Bill is now law.
It stands to protect the gains Uganda has made over the past decades. It paves the way for future growth. It ensures fairness. It empowers entrepreneurship. It creates room for every idea, big or small. Every idea is given the opportunity to thrive and contribute to our nation’s prosperity.

Elizabeth R. Auma Kiguli

A heartbeat in every Policy