Buganda Kingdom has officially inaugurated the Board of the Mengo Chamber of Commerce, a move aimed at strengthening commercial activity and equipping individuals with the skills necessary to succeed in business.
The seven-member board, chaired by Fred Kiyimba Freeman, is tasked with providing strategic guidance, mentorship, and support to traders, entrepreneurs, and investors operating within and beyond the Kingdom.
Presiding over the inauguration, the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, emphasized the central role of trade in transforming livelihoods and driving sustainable economic development. He noted that empowering people with practical business knowledge is key to improving household incomes and promoting self-reliance.
“There is a need to equip people with business knowledge so they can uplift their standards of living, because trade teaches wealth creation, innovation, and self-reliance,” Mayiga said.
The Katikkiro explained that income generation is fundamentally rooted in the ability to offer value through products or services, noting that wealth is created when individuals are able to sell goods or provide services such as legal expertise, education, and other professional skills.
“For someone to earn income, they must have something to sell—either a product or a service. These are all goods that can be exchanged for money,” he added.
Mayiga also criticized the common practice of displaying merchandise on shop verandas, warning that it disrupts business operations and discourages customers.
“When traders place goods on verandas, they deny customers space to stand and comfortably choose what to buy, which ultimately drives them away,” he said, urging traders to adopt more organized and customer-friendly business practices.
Reflecting on history, the Katikkiro observed that trade has long been a cornerstone of societal development, citing Buganda’s historical conflicts with Bunyoro as evidence of the strategic importance of commerce.
“Even the wars Buganda fought with Bunyoro were largely driven by trade, which underscores how vital commerce is to improving people’s livelihoods,” he said.
Buganda officials expressed optimism that the newly inaugurated board will strengthen economic empowerment initiatives and position commerce as a key driver of prosperity within Buganda and beyond.