By: Simon M. Mutungi, Ph.D. (African Antitrust)
Competition law, originally known as antitrust law, traces its roots back to 19th century North America. During this time, large corporations would enter into legal agreements, forming trusts to consolidate their assets and collaborate as a unified entity to maximize profits at the expense of consumers. To illustrate this concept, imagine being a child in kindergarten, selecting the biggest and strongest classmates to ensure victory in a tug-of-war match even before it begins.
John D. Rockefeller, a prominent figure in modern history, epitomized this practice by establishing Standard Oil, a trust that controlled approximately 90 percent of America’s oil refining capacity. With such dominance, Rockefeller could dictate oil prices and prioritize profits over product quality, with little concern for competition. Recognizing the harmful effects of these monopolistic practices on consumers and the economy, neighboring Canada enacted the world’s first competition law in 1889, followed by the United States in 1890, leading to the term “Antitrust” law.
Fast forward 134 years, Uganda has finally embraced this crucial regulatory framework with the recent presidential approval of the Competition Act 2023. Prior to this, Uganda primarily relied on sectoral and regional laws to address competition issues. The introduction of the Competition Act signifies a significant step forward in Uganda’s economic legislation, aimed at fostering a fair business environment and enhancing consumer welfare.
This editorial serves as a primer on competition law, tailored for businesses and individuals unfamiliar with the concept, within the context of Uganda’s new legislation…
Featured News
Australia Passes Strict Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Nov 28, 2024 by
CPI
Google Appeals Ruling Overhaul of Play Store in Epic Games Lawsuit
Nov 28, 2024 by
CPI
FTC Investigates Uber for Alleged Subscription Violations
Nov 28, 2024 by
CPI
India’s Watchdog Launches Investigation Into Google’s Real-Money Gaming Policies
Nov 28, 2024 by
CPI
Microsoft Under FTC Scrutiny for Cloud, AI, and Licensing Practices
Nov 28, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Remedies Revisited
Oct 30, 2024 by
CPI
Fixing the Fix: Updating Policy on Merger Remedies
Oct 30, 2024 by
CPI
Methodology Matters: The 2017 FTC Remedies Study
Oct 30, 2024 by
CPI
U.S. v. AT&T: Five Lessons for Vertical Merger Enforcement
Oct 30, 2024 by
CPI
The Search for Antitrust Remedies in Tech Leads Beyond Antitrust
Oct 30, 2024 by
CPI