Sam Mwaka-karama
To take Uganda’s economic dilemma into
perspective is difficult due to land-locked implications! Mostly those who
write on the various aspects and fragments of what constitute the ‘economy’,
only tackle the discussions from a premise based solidly on what were the
‘norms’ of the whole matter – like, what might normally be applicable in the
understanding and practices of a particular aspect of consumerism - And there
are so many aspects and factors of an economy.
However, the ‘norm’ as it were might
[actually] also turn-out to be what is considered practicable – in as far as ‘regulations’
and ‘guidelines’ were concerned. Critical factors might more often get
construed by cosmetic analysts to mean unworkable views. Negative viewpoints or
even dismissed as isolated thinking.
In
the various fields of consumerism, there is always a common denominator which
in this case might be seen as commission-driven. In the more modern language
deemed as ‘consultants’. The consultants are otherwise known to be
commission-driven in a polished kind of way.
Yet, these more and more might actually be
the driving factors that critically influence economic performances. Downwards
or upwards. Simplified one might say that commission agents market their
expertise on short term contracts, for a price.
In this article, I am trying to visualize
as rationally and fairly as possible from outside of the [box] ethics (a white
woman once commented that some of us have not experienced a [Box] of our own –
so I asked – what is ‘Open Courseware?’: my experience). To sort of try and
place the pointer of arguments, onto the actual problem-spots where the
many-many question-marks ought to be. My theme here is critical view on
‘Classic Commission Agents’.
Classical Commission
Agents
In thinking outside the box, as it were, I
would in my own words define them as [foreign] political business venture
companies that commonly operate as ‘high profile’ corporate here in the third
world. The classical commission agents always existed in Uganda under various
names and titles or organ types.
In the 1960/70s these included trade
companies fronting for the likes of ‘The Old East’ colonial founded
multi-national for far East trade with East Africa or ‘The Old Mutual’ (based
in Kenya) the often [cold] company that was reputed to secretly represent (then
Apartheid) South Africa even in the heavily embargoed SA pre-independence years
or ‘Tywensche Overseas’ the import/export company that operated under the
‘Crown Agents’ where the company enjoyed political protection status with
tremendous British influence; shipping in supermarket supplies and exporting
tea and coffee with questionable tax anything – if at all!
The classical commission agents were a
phenomena all by themselves, in the age of ‘Multi-Nationals’ even competing
with Tiny Roland’s LonRho. Actually and certainly ironically the classical
commission agents in the twists and turns - exited the multi-nationals. As the
World Economic Order of the 1980s and 90s were ushered-in, to be crowned by the
century and millennium change over. Mercantile Trade in the third world has
since shifted downwards into the hands of the myriads of the lesser even local
companies. The old naturally de-functioned, while the millennium also brought
about the ICT and Hi-tech to create even more complex Trans Nationals hybrid
digital online companies that re-defined commission agent-ism.
The Oil Explorers
Though compared to Gabon, Uganda was [not
very surprisingly] indeed, thirty plus years late to get to the point of
exploiting its oil reserves – the business end mostly quagmire(ed) in dire and
very blind politics – always confused by that ancient rule of the [trade]
game... both Heritage and Tallow being actually white-collar ground-breaker commission agents! To me these
companies in the Oil business weren’t like Total or for that matter Shell, who
are long time established oil exploration (even deep sea) and vending entities.
Frankly stated the speculators generally and
wheeler-dealers have been Uganda’s biggest problem since colonial times; being
a perennial market and a most lucrative ground for financial and commodity
speculation and now even oil production wheeler dealing.
Even outright big game hunters and
smugglers of game trophies have curved enormous wealth in Uganda. Problem was,
they, the international commission agents never left much in their wake – whenever
they left Uganda.
Now Tallow’s one arbitration court case is
still on in Britain [January 2013 as I wrote this article], another one has reportedly
already been triggered in the USA – the revolving-door between Heritage and
Tallow is classical commission agent stuff, diplomatically politicized though.
The
bottom-line is; between the two companies the take-over deal just got caught-up
and entangled in the widespread tentacles of Uganda’s Direct Foreign Investment
DFI and URA taxation statutes, actually the taxation cutting rather thickly
into the commission...
Heller’s catch double-double! The terribly
imaginative English had once upon a time designed an extra cuff and collar set
out of it creating affordable executive shirts [Double Two] ‘stuffed shirts’! -
So that the pinstripes and charcoal gray lawyers might sweat it out under the
collar in arbitration court rooms - while the commission agents nervously wait
it out.
The politicians are at each-other’s throat
locally – with oil bribe money accusations - even delaying and actually postponing
exploitation of the oil. It all makes no sense! Arguing over who got a bit of
the revolving door money! When actually the bulk of the oil reserve is intact
deep in the bowel of the Earth, waiting to be accessed, processed and sold for
National Wealth and gain of individuals as well... and eventually the Ugandans
at large.
In appraising development it is often
misleading to make quotation of experts in short two liner comments –
explaining the ‘Norm’ of how things should be! The real life is unlike the
‘Text Book’, things often work themselves differently in reality! The ‘norm’
cannot guide you! ***
The Author is a Free Lance Writer. Book Author.
Mob: 077 7 164787 Email: mwakarama@gmail.com
