Grapevine

I'll never ban importation of cheap Tanzanian rice, says Museveni

President Museveni has said "it would be a huge mistake by his government to ban importation of processed rice from Tanzania."

Museveni made the remarks while speaking at the commissioning of the 600MW Karuma Hydropower Dam at Karuma Cell, Karuma Town Council in Kiryandongo District on Thursday.

This follows fresh disputes that have erupted between rice sector actors and officials of the Trade Ministry over plans to issue permits for the duty-free importation of 100,000 metric tons of white rice, valued at approximately Shs199.7 billion.

Acknowledging mounting pressure to ban rice imported from Tanzania, Museveni said the move would push Tanzania to banning several Ugandan exports.

“When I was coming here, I was reading about some inefficient rice growers in Uganda crying that I should ban the rice of Tanzania because it is too cheap, but I will never do that,” he emphasized.