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Transforming economies: Insights from King Solomon’s trade principles
By Elizabeth R. Auma K, Trade Policy Leader/Bridging Policy, People & Purpose/ Founder, Hearts& Trade Many years ago, I wondered why a particular prayerful group of women I knew was perpetually broke. I then ventured into the study of the wise and wealthy King Solomon. I am currently in the advanced stages of finalizing a…
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Ssalongo the rider: The cost of development and order
By Elizabeth R.Auma K, Trade Policy Leader/Bridging Policy, People & Purpose/Founder, Hearts& Trade The cost of development is not the same for everyone. It depends on where you stand. Recently, Kampala City underwent a city clean-up exercise that saw traders removed from the streets. The reactions were mixed: tears, sorrow, relief, and even celebration, depending…
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Africa’s Trade Policy: Adapting to Global Changes
By Elizabeth R.Auma K, Trade Policy Leader | Bridging Policy, People & Purpose | Founder, Hearts & Trade “Well done.” “Cabinet approved.” “Parliament approved.” ‘The President assented’’. These are the satisfying words my colleagues and I celebrate after long days, sometimes years of reviewing, consulting, and refining a Law, policy or strategy. It feels like…
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The three-year-old who taught me Trade Policy
By Elizabeth R.Auma K As I stood by the roadside at Kalerwe Market one evening, I observed the power of human connection. In that moment, I learned a lesson no trade policy classroom could ever teach yet one that could make trade policy far more meaningful and effective. A little girl, no more than three…
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The Kitchen and the Table: Why Trade Policy Looks Good on Paper but Fails in Practice
By Elizabeth R.Auma K There are advantages to sitting in the kitchen. You know what went into the meal, what mishaps occurred along the way, and what made it beautiful in the end. There are also lessons to be learned from sitting at the table, where the meal is either enjoyed or quietly rejected with…
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When Tariffs Die
By Elizabeth R. Auma K In some African cultures, there is a belief that when someone dies, they are reborn in another form. I have found this metaphor painfully true in the lanes of trade. Even science reflects this truth: matter occupies space, when one form is removed, another takes its place. In every sense,…
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Cultivating Cultural Intelligence in Negotiation
By Elizabeth R. Auma K I have participated in several regional and global engagements, and one thing has always been clear: cultures differ. I believe it is within this diversity that the true beauty of negotiation is found. Engaging with someone whose culture is new to you stretches your awareness, patience, and sensitivity. The food…
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Reciprocity: The trade negotiator’s game changer
Elizabeth R. Auma K Reciprocity The practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by one country to another. Last week, we reflected on sovereignty: the right and responsibility of a nation to protect its interests, borders, and people. However, sovereignty, on its own, does not sustain relationships between nations. This…
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The power of precedent
By Elizabeth R. Auma K “Chairperson, in 2015, we were in a similar situation and passed the decision to which I make reference. It is only necessary that we do the same.” Such a statement is common during Policy discussions among Countries. At the close of 2025, I participated in a regional meeting that placed…
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Balancing Trade and Taxes: A Policy Dilemma
Elizabeth R.Auma. K Every time I find myself talking trade policy, instinctively I will always have a line like, ‘…..Government is committed to ensuring a conducive environment for trade’. This statement to the ears of the traders is exciting and reassuring. Yet the same government is committed to collecting taxes from the same traders. It…
A heartbeat in every policy
Hearts & Trade 