The Anti-Counterfeit Authority of Kenya (ACA) and Uganda’s Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN Africa) have signed a memorandum, to fight against the distribution of counterfeit goods across the East African region.
According to the World Economic Forum’s estimates, illicit trade currently deprives the global economy of USD 2.2 Trillion annually. The ACN confirmed that Uganda, on its own, loses up to 6 trillion Ugandan Shillings to counterfeit and substandard products a year. Similarly, a 2018 survey conducted by the ACA estimated the value of counterfeit trade in Kenya at around 100 billion in Kenyan Shillings.
It is against this background, and considering the many obstacles that developing African countries already face, that the ACA and the ACN Africa elected to strengthen strategic collaboration between African countries, with the view of eliminating counterfeit goods in East Africa. The memorandum was signed on 20 April 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.
ACA Executive Director, Dr Robi Mbugua Njoroge, confirmed that the “MOU represents a statement of mutual intentions between our two institutions- focusing on developing and strengthening a robust Intellectual Property System in the region”. The ACA is mandated under Kenyan law to partner with national and international organisations on matters concerning counterfeit goods in the East African region.
The Director Legal of ACN Africa indicated that “ACA and ACN Africa deeply appreciate the magnitude of the counterfeit challenge at hand and have therefore agreed to cooperate in the areas of research, legal action, technology and communication for mindset change”.
Source: Kenya, Uganda join hands to fight counterfeits | Monitor
