Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has urged the European Union Parliament to expedite the process of removing Uganda from its anti-money laundering and terrorism financing grey list. The country has been on the list since 2016, despite amending several laws to meet the delisting requirements.
“Parliament, for the first time, amended seven laws in two weeks because we were rushing to meet the requirements,” Tayebwa said during a meeting with the Deputy President of the European Union Parliament, Antonella Sberna, in Brussels, Belgium.
Tayebwa emphasized that Uganda has met the necessary requirements, but the EU Parliament has yet to officially delist the country. He appealed to the EU Parliament to split the resolution, allowing compliant countries like Uganda to be removed from the grey list.
“The European Union Commission has indicated its support for splitting the resolution so that the four compliant countries can be removed. We cannot continue paying for the sins of those who have not complied,” Tayebwa said.
“However, we were informed that the European Parliament rejected this proposal. Madam President, I have a specific request for you – to push the European Parliament to split the resolution so that countries that have complied can be removed from the grey list,” he added.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Belgium, Mirjam Blaak, echoed similar concerns, stating that investors have urged her to push for Uganda’s delisting. “I have met companies interested in Uganda’s tourism sector, but they say banks refuse to provide guarantees because Uganda is still on the grey list,” she explained.
Otuke County legislator, Paul Omara, also highlighted the impact of Uganda’s presence on the grey list on the country’s credit rating. “Uganda will only be able to access credit at higher interest rates,” he said.
Tayebwa also expressed caution over the Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products, arguing that it could disproportionately harm poor communities in Uganda and other developing countries. “This law will severely impact small-scale farmers in Uganda and Africa. Such non-tariff barriers will hit the poorest of the poor the hardest,” he said.
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