Parliament on Tuesday passed a Bill that seeks to protect business ideas from theft.

For a Bill that has been on the parliamentary shelves for a year and a half, it was a remarkable development on Tuesday, as MPs swiftly passed the Trade Secrets Protection Bill in less than an hour.

Mr Fred Ruhindi, the state Minister for Justice, under whose docket the Bill was sponsored, told MPs he was certain the Bill "will deal with theft of ideas by competitors." He said the new piece of legislation was part of the reform of commercial laws in the country, which the government has undertaken to support private sector development.

The new law defines a trade secret as information that must be legally protected against disclosure, acquisition or use by others in a manner contrary to honest commercial practice, and outlaws 'free riding' on the efforts of others. Mr Ruhindi said the formula used to manufacture the world renown soft drink coca-cola, was one such example of a trade secret.

Although debate on the Bill was uncharacteristically devoid of any disagreement as one MP after another showered the government with words of commendation, there were calls for immediate review of all commercial laws in the country. "Uganda is in need of these laws because we are currently using outdated commercial laws," said MP John Kawanga (DP, Masaka).

Erute MP John Odit said he was concerned that Ugandan products were being sold on the world market under brand names of different countries, telling MPs that the country lacked a certification and patent system for its agricultural products exported abroad. "We have heard that China wants to develop the Nile perch and patent it as theirs," he said, adding, "once we pass this law, I want the government to stand firm and start selling our products with our own names."

However, the Bill does not lay down grave punitive measures for those involved in "commercial espionage" or those who steal the innovative ideas of others. Instead, it leaves that responsibility to the courts to award damages or grant an injunction as some of the remedies for disclosure.