Warehouse receipt systems (WRS) allow farmers and traders to access markets and financial systems. While this system is not new in Uganda, as seen by both public and private effort since 2004 during its pilot, very little is known why it failed to ensure market access and credit. With the Uganda Warehouse Receipt System Authority in place, the government of Uganda seeks to reinstate the public warehouse receipt system with a focus on the electronic WRS (E-WRS). This study therefore seeks to document perceived benefits and challenges of private sector stakeholders of the WRS in Uganda. This paper relies on qualitative data and follows the Structure-Conduct-Performance framework used to analyse agricultural commodity markets. The results reveal that while the market structure and conduct of the pilot WRS was implemented as theorized, it faced various barriers that led to poor market performance. Despite the challenges, actors are optimistic that reinstating the WRS will lead to better access to markets and credit. The paper draws important policy implications for the implementation of the WRS including the need for government to spearhead promotion of standards; improvements in smallholder productivity; capacity strengthening of collective action; and the importance of increased sensitization on all aspects of the WRS.
Most recently, Uganda increased its trade engagements with COMESA as demonstrated by its submission of accession instruments to COMESA Secretariat in order to access the Free Trade Area (FTA). It is envisaged that trade with COMESA can compensate for the low export demand elsewhere by enabling diversification of the export basket and facilitating value addition to traditional exports. It is also expected to enhance producer competitiveness and consumer welfare. Full exploitation of this requires information on where and in what commodities Uganda's trade niche lies. This study assesses the country competiveness within COMESA based on the concept of Revealed Comparative advantage (RCA). The paper also evaluates the stability of Uganda's RCA in COMESA from 1997-2014 using HS6-digit level export and re-exports data obtained from the World Integrated Trade System. Findings reveal that Uganda's RCA is in all 16 industries at the product chapter level. It is stable in exports of animals, vegetables, food production, wood, textiles, & cloth, stone & glass and metals. Policies for further development of these sectors should aim at addressing sectoral challenges including the low productivity, marketing, and processing capacity in the animal sector, low capacity to test phytosanitary and sanitary certification in the vegetable sector. Additionally, tackling market and low production challenges for the textile sector and, high costs of production for the metals sector will further boost exports to the region.
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