Hundreds protest in Uganda capital against Chinese traders

[Soulspeek]

Hundreds protest in Uganda capital against Chinese traders
By RODNEY MUHUMUZA
Apr. 19, 2017 8:40 AM EDT




KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Years of growing animosity at Chinese traders turned into a protest by hundreds in Uganda's capital on Wednesday against what local businesses called unfair competition, while the mayor warned against the tensions turning into xenophobic attacks.

Hundreds of Ugandan traders protested in Kampala, some carrying placards urging Chinese traders to leave. Many Ugandans accuse Chinese traders of moving to this East African country as serious investors but then setting up businesses in small trade. Many Ugandan merchants want the Chinese restricted to large business ventures.

Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, who supported the protest, said the government must protect local traders to prevent the protests from escalating into attacks against foreign traders.

"We are likely to have xenophobia here. That's where we are heading, unless they come up with measures to protect indigenous traders," the mayor said.

Inexpensive Chinese goods have long been popular in Africa, and in the last decade Chinese merchants have started eliminating the middleman and setting up retail outlets of their own, much to local merchants' chagrin.

Calls to the Chinese embassy rang unanswered.

Ugandan police spokesman Asan Kasingye called Wednesday's street protest illegal and "should not be accepted by law-abiding people," because it targeted a specific group of foreigners. Chinese merchants operating with valid papers will be protected, Kasingye said.

Ugandan immigration officials routinely deport groups of Chinese found operating without valid work permits. Many others operate legally across the country.

Perspective foreign investors in Uganda must provide evidence of $100,000 in planned investment and obtain the necessary trade licenses, according to official guidelines.

In 2011, riots in Kampala largely targeted foreign merchants, echoing the 1972 expulsion of the country's Indian middle class by dictator Idi Amin.

MY TAKE: Pakistan is next in line.....

Source: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f1fa...rotest-uganda-capital-against-chinese-traders

 

[Godman]

Whats wrong with foreigners moving in and setting up shops? I remeber watching a documentary in CCTV about a Chinese guy that came to work in a African country I don't remeber the exact details but he introduced modern agricultural techniques to the region and employ many locals. His house even had bullet holes after local gangs came to extort money

Inexpensive Chinese goods have long been popular in Africa, and in the last decade Chinese merchants have started eliminating the middleman and setting up retail outlets of their own, much to local merchants' chagrin.

Isn't that actually better for the consumer?

 

[Sliver]

Whats wrong with foreigners moving in and setting up shops? I remeber watching a documentary in CCTV about a Chinese guy that came to work in a African country I don't remeber the exact details but he introduced modern agricultural techniques to the region and employ many locals. His house even had bullet holes after local gangs came to extort money


Isn't that actually better for the consumer?

if it makes the local companies unable to compete because of the high amounts of subsidies Chinese govt gives to reduce the cost of manufacturing, it creates an unemployment problem in the host country.
unemployment is a political issue - can be easily taken up and blown up by any political party.

 

[nang2]

Now we know why they remain poor. Traders are the ones that make the division of labor possible. Without the division of labor, there would be no human civilization.

 

[Vishwabalas]

Now we know why they remain poor. Traders are the ones that make the division of labor possible. Without the division of labor, there would be no human civilization.

Ah ..... so now you are going to "civilize" the ugandan savages

And all this while I used to think that it was the "White mans Burden". Congratulations China.

 

[nang2]

Ah ..... so now you are going to "civilize" the ugandan savages

And all this while I used to think that it was the "White mans Burden". Congratulations China.

It is their own job to "civilize" themselves. Everyone else, including I, is just busy making his/her own living.

 

[Vishwabalas]

It is their own job to "civilize" themselves. Everyone else, including I, is just busy making his/her own living.

Yes, which is why they are kicking you out. This is polite, you wait longer, it gets nasty.

 

[AnnoyingOrange]

Hundreds protest in Uganda capital against Chinese traders
By RODNEY MUHUMUZA
Apr. 19, 2017 8:40 AM EDT




KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Years of growing animosity at Chinese traders turned into a protest by hundreds in Uganda's capital on Wednesday against what local businesses called unfair competition, while the mayor warned against the tensions turning into xenophobic attacks.

Hundreds of Ugandan traders protested in Kampala, some carrying placards urging Chinese traders to leave. Many Ugandans accuse Chinese traders of moving to this East African country as serious investors but then setting up businesses in small trade. Many Ugandan merchants want the Chinese restricted to large business ventures.

Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, who supported the protest, said the government must protect local traders to prevent the protests from escalating into attacks against foreign traders.

"We are likely to have xenophobia here. That's where we are heading, unless they come up with measures to protect indigenous traders," the mayor said.

Inexpensive Chinese goods have long been popular in Africa, and in the last decade Chinese merchants have started eliminating the middleman and setting up retail outlets of their own, much to local merchants' chagrin.

Calls to the Chinese embassy rang unanswered.

Ugandan police spokesman Asan Kasingye called Wednesday's street protest illegal and "should not be accepted by law-abiding people," because it targeted a specific group of foreigners. Chinese merchants operating with valid papers will be protected, Kasingye said.

Ugandan immigration officials routinely deport groups of Chinese found operating without valid work permits. Many others operate legally across the country.

Perspective foreign investors in Uganda must provide evidence of $100,000 in planned investment and obtain the necessary trade licenses, according to official guidelines.

In 2011, riots in Kampala largely targeted foreign merchants, echoing the 1972 expulsion of the country's Indian middle class by dictator Idi Amin.

MY TAKE: Pakistan is next in line.....

Source: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f1fa...rotest-uganda-capital-against-chinese-traders

That's Philippines story getting repeated all over again... Right now 1% Chinese control more than 60% of Philippines economy ... That's how its going to be a decade form now.

 

[Laozi]

MY TAKE: Pakistan is next in line.....

China is a big brother to Pakistan. All their investments are for the benefit of Pakistan. Chinese will overlook their interests/profits in favour of giving economic benefits to Pakistan.

@AnnoyingOrange

 

[Godman]

if it makes the local companies unable to compete because of the high amounts of subsidies Chinese govt gives to reduce the cost of manufacturing, it creates an unemployment problem in the host country.
unemployment is a political issue - can be easily taken up and blown up by any political party.

Ugandan government is supposed to ensure fair competition. Ant-dumping laws weren't created for nothing you know

 

[thesolar65]

 

[Crixus]

Personally i find its good to do business with Chinese ... I filed mt IT returns with Chinese agency and they are good and affordable ... if Uganda has allowed chinese to do business then its bad on their part to protest against some hard working legal business man ...... If you dont like dont buy stuff from Chinese buy it from some where else but protesting against the business man and putting their life in danger is bad .......

 

[Vishwabalas]

China is a big brother to Pakistan. All their investments are for the benefit of Pakistan. Chinese will overlook their interests/profits in favour of giving economic benefits to Pakistan.

@AnnoyingOrange

China is out and out screwing pakistan because they know that pakistan has no other friend. Just have a look at the terms of their agreement. It has been discussed before in pdf.

 

[Soulspeek]

Pakistanis are so indebted to their one and only friend that they are overlooking everything. They are surrendering their sovereignty and market to Chinese. They will soon realize that CPEC is another East India Company in making.

 

[Indiran Chandiran]

Pakistanis are so indebted to their one and only friend that they are overlooking everything. They are surrendering their sovereignty and market to Chinese. They will soon realize that CPEC is another East India Company in making.

What makes you think Pakistan is getting into CPEC with its eyes closed ?
There's something in it for everyone - from Fauji Foundation , to politicians , bureaucrats , religious leaders , local businessmen , state of Punjab , whoever I've missed out , etc .

The people to bear the brunt will be the ordinary Pakistani like the ordinary Ugandan .Since when have they mattered ? Yuweri Musuweni is President for life having been in the saddle for more than 3 decades .While hes done a lot of good for country , Uganda as a nation society and economy has its limitations .Plus a little grease to the wheel hardy matters .The Chinese certainly won't be found lacking in that department .

If Pakistan sees the incumbent government successfully complete it's term , conducts next year's elections and oversees the transfer of power to another democratically government , it'd be the 2nd time in Pakistan's 70+ year existence as a nation to see a democratically elected government successfully complete it's mandated period in office .

These are hard cold facts .