By Ritah Namisango and Monica Meeme
September 25, 2025: Delegates from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) in Uganda delivered a Public lecture on the role of competition policy in regional economic integration.
The lecture targeting students under the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) at Makerere University, was aimed at deepening the understanding of competition law, economics, and consumer protection within the context of regional integration.
The Competition Commission, established under Article 6 of the COMESA Competition Regulations (promulgated pursuant to Article 55 of the Treaty establishing COMESA), is mandated to promote competition by preventing restrictive business practices that hinder market efficiency, thereby enhancing consumer welfare and supporting economic integration within the Common Market.
The lecture organized by COMESA, MTIC and CoBAMS, focused on the principles and practical application of competition policy, law, economics, and consumer protection, emphasizing their critical role in promoting economic development and examining the importance of competition regulation within multilateral agreements.
The lecture featured presentations from the following experts: Mr. Isaac Tausha-Chief Economist at COMESA, Mrs. Kondwani Kaonga-Economist at COMESA Competition Commission, Mr. Hussein Musiho-Senior Trade Officer from MTIC, and Associate Professor James Wokadala-Deputy Principal of CoBAMS.
Welcoming the delegation and students to the lecture, Associate Professor James Wokadala, underscored the importance of the engagement in advancing regional integration efforts within the East African community.
He highlighted that the Competition Commission’s work aligns with Makerere University’s core functions of teaching and learning, research, and community engagement, especially in areas relating to regional trade, competition, and consumer protection policies.
Associate Professor Wokadala reaffirmed the University’s commitment to aligning its curriculum to global and regional commercial trends, underscoring Makerere’s long-standing history and reputation as a leading academic institution in Africa.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Musiho from MTIC explained that the core goal of competition law is to benefit consumers, who have both rights and obligations. He stressed the critical need for regional policy alignment and cross-border collaboration with bodies such as the East African Community (EAC), COMESA, and others, to effectively regulate modern challenges, including digital trade and online markets.
Acknowledging that implementation remains a challenge, Mr. Musiho expressed the commitment of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, to strengthening enforcement and building capacity through regional partnerships to protect market integrity and consumers.
Delivering the presentation, Mr. Isaac Tausha, the Chief Economist at COMESA, highlighted the critical need for competition regulation, explaining how unfair business practices can cross borders and negatively impact economies. “Anti-competitive behaviors such as collusion, market division, and abuse of dominance distort resource allocation and limit consumer choices,” he said.
Mr. Tausha stressed that healthy competition is essential for driving innovation, improving product quality, and lowering prices. “Effective enforcement of competition law enhances industry competitiveness and supports broader economic development goals,” he noted.
He encouraged students to consider careers in competition economics, highlighting that these roles require both technical expertise and strong analytical reasoning.
Twining competition policy to continental integration efforts, Mr. Tausha referenced the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its competition protocol, which reflect growing momentum towards unified market regulation across Africa.
He underscored the need to build institutional capacity by developing a skilled workforce of economists and analysts to drive Africa’s competitive agenda. Strong competition policies, he emphasized, are vital for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and enabling domestic firms to thrive in both regional and global markets.
He urged students to deepen their understanding of market functions, actively engage with emerging regulatory debates in Africa, and view competition economics as a dynamic and impactful career path.
An Economist COMESA Competition Commission, Mrs. Kondwani Kaonga, explained that nations pursue regional integration to strengthen international relations, promote intra-regional trade, and benefit economically from shared frameworks and reduced trade barriers.
“Economic integration is central to the mission of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), facilitating cross-border trade by reducing tariffs and harmonizing policies, which ultimately supports national and regional development,” she noted.
She stated that effective competition policy is vital for the success of regional economic integration, ensuring that private sector conduct aligns with broader goals of market fairness, consumer protection, and economic development.
She encouraged students to understand the practical implications of economic concepts and to appreciate the role of institutions such as COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) in fostering inclusive and competitive regional economies.
Monica Meeme contributed to this story as a Guest Writer. Monica Meeme is a student pursuing a Bachelor of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University.