Days after the ban on plastic bags,Kenyan manufacturers are now relocating to Uganda

Kenyan plastic bags manufacturers are now moving to Uganda just days after they were locked out of business by their government following the ban on plastic carrier bags.

Uganda is wooing the manufacturers to relocate to Kampala owing to big growth opportunity in the country for manufacturers of quality packaging material.

“We have laws to protect and allow investors to repatriate their profits as they deem fit. Likewise, their expatriate staff can come in easily,” says a letter sent to the manufacturers authored by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).

Uganda is flaunting its economic growth rate of between five and seven per cent to entice Kenyan manufacturers.

“Many Ugandan enterprises are missing out on opportunities in larger markets because their packaging does not meet international standards. In order for Ugandan processed honey, fruit juices, mineral water, herbal medicines and chemicals, among other products to be competitive nationally, regionally and globally, the packaging has got to be of high quality,” says the letter.

The invite signed by UIA investment executive Robinah Magoba says most Ugandan companies import plastic packaging material from Kenya where the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards Programme (PVoC) packaging technology was in use.

Still, a number of Kenyan firms are said to have set up subsidiaries in Uganda and the invitation is intended to persuade them to re-locate their machinery.

The Kenyan government imposed the world's toughest law against plastic bags. A Kenya Gazette notice signed by Environment cabinet secretary Judi Wakhungu outlawed the manufacture, import, sale or use of plastic carrier bags in the country.

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Failure to adhere to the law will attract a fine of up to Sh4 million or a two-year jail term.

The ban has led to loss of thousands of jobs as manufacturers suspended operations to avoid steep fines stipulated under the law.

On the contrary, makers of alternative carrier bags are doing booming business, while supporters of the new law cite its potential to check environmental pollution by the non-biodegradable plastic bags.