KAMPALA – Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the communications sector regulator has led this year’s celebrations to mark the International World Consumer Rights Day.
UCC’s Manager Consumer Affairs, Pamela Ankunda said that the commission moved to prioritize the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for this year’s celebrations.
Ms. Ankunda observed that many Ugandans who consume ICT services are not aware of their rights as consumers and many continue to suffer silently hence the need for increased sensitization.
“We have most people that carry phones, have postal offices, listen to radios, watch TVs, they are online all those are consumers of ICT services in Uganda,” she noted adding that they all have a right to well-explained services.
She said that many consumers still face real challenges in their everyday lives, including a lack of access or unsafe goods and services, and unfair practices.
“Raising awareness of consumer rights amongst consumers, businesses and governments is an important step by UCC in helping to put consumer protection in place,” she said adding that they [consumers] have a right to full pre-contractual information that is clear and helpful.”
UCC’s consumers’ affairs team believes the day highlights what consumers want and need from a connected world and how important it is to put them at the heart of the development of these digital products and services.
Mr. Isaac Kiyingi, the Executive Secretary Uganda Consumer Protection Association (UCPA) said the day marked to raise global awareness about consumer rights and needs and that it means that each consumer has the right to have information about the quality, potency, quantity, purity, price, and standard of goods or services they consume.
UCC consumers affairs team has also put up a table for the public to log in their complaints about quality, delay, quantity and tariff with regard to the nature of the communication service provided.
About the day
World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year on March 15, where customers get the chance to demand their rights to be respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.
This year, the theme of promoted World Consumer Rights Day is “Trusted Smart Products”.
This year over 100 members in over 90 countries are coming together to mark World Consumer Rights Day.
