The Concept of Consumer Protection in Uganda. A Critical Analysis/Assesement of The Laws And Institutions of Enforcement

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

DECLARATION ...................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ...................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................. iv

TABLE OF STATUTES ..................................................................................... v

TABLE OF CASES .................................................................................... vi

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................... l

1.1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1

1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ........................................................................................ 3

1.3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY. ......................................................................................... 4

1.4. OBJECTIVEOFTHESTUDY ........................................................................................ S

1.5. HYPOTHESIS ........................................................................................ 5

1.6. METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................... 6

1.7. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 7

1.8. CHAPTER! SA TION ................................................................................... 14

CHAPTER TW 0 ... ....................................................................................... 16

HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ..... 16

2.0. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 16

2.1. EMERGENCE OF THE CONCEPT ........................................................................................ 17

2.1.1. The 12th and 13th Centuries .................................................................................... 17

2.1.2. The 14th 15th and 16th Centuries .................................................................................... 20

2.1.3. The 17'", IS'" And 19'" Centuries ..................................................................................... 22

2.2. CREATION OF A CONSUMER CLASS AND THE EVOLUTION OF CONSUMER LAWS IN

UGANDA. ............................................................................. 25

2.3. 20th, 21st CENTURY AND TODAY .......................................................................................... 28

2.4. WHY PROTECT THE CONSUMER? .......................................................................................... 29

2.5. THE UNITED NATIONS GUIDELINES FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION, 1985 ...................... 30

2.6. THE MODEL LAW FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION IN AFRICA, 1995 .................................. 31

vii

CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................... 33

AN ANALYSIS OF THE LAWS RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION IN

UGANDA ...................................................................................... 33

3.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 33

3.1. CONTRACT ACT, CAP 73 AND SALE OF GOODS ACT, CAP 82 ............................................. 34

3.2. THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT, CAP 103 ...................................................................... 36

3.3. FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, Cap 278 ........................................................................................... 4

3.4. EXEMPTION CLAUSES AND FREEDOM OF CONTRACT ....................................................... 42

3.5. PRIVITY OF CONTRACT ...................................................................................... 46

3.6. REMEDIES ...................................................................................... 47

3.6.1. Criminal Remedies .................................................................................... 47

3.6.2. Civil Remedies ..................................................................................... 48

3.6.3. Tort Based Remedies ................................................................................................................... 50

3.7. CONCLUSION ............................... , ....................................................................................... 53

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................ , .......................................................... 55

4.0. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. , .. 55

4.1. UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS ................................................................ , .. 55

4.3. UGAND REVENUE AUTHORITY ....................................................................................... 57

4.5. THE NATIONAL DRUG AIITHORITY CAP 206 ......................................................................... 60

4. 7. THE JUDICIARY ................................................................................... 63

4.8. UGANDA CONSUMERS PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (UCPA) ............................................. 65

4.9. MEDIA ........................................................................................ 66

4. 10. CONCLUSION ................................................................................... 66

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................... 68

SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS.AND CONCLUSIONS ........ 68

5.0 SUMMARY OF THE MAIN F'INDINGS ....................................................................................... 68

5.1 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 69

5.1. 1. The need for a new consumer law ............................................................................. 69

5. I .5. Inspectorates ..................................................................................... 72

5.1.6 Role of Government effotilpolicy ........................................................................... 72

5.2. Conclusion .................................................................................... 73

Selected Bibliography .................................................................................. 75

Books.................................................................................... 75

Articles .................................................................................. 76

Appendix A: questionnaire ..................................................................................... 77

Appendix B: Interview guide ....................................................................................... 78