Kampala — THE Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) wants people convicted of falsifying trademarks to be imprisoned for more than five years or pay a fine of sh10m.

Gabriel Hatega, the executive director, yesterday told the parliamentary committee on legal affairs that the proposed penalties under the Trademarks Bill were lenient.

According to the current Bill, any person who falsifies or unlawfully removes a registered trademark, can be convicted and fined not more than 48currency points (about sh960,000) or imprisonment of less two years.

"The penalties for the new offences are soft. We recommend that deterrent penalties be included to discourage infringers," Hatega said.

For the law to be effective, PSFU recommended that the offenders pay a fine more than 500 currency points (about sh10m) and be imprisoned for more than five years. Uganda's currency point is equivalent to sh20,000.

Hatega told a committee chaired by Stephen Tashobya (NRM) that PSFU strongly supports the Bill and urged Parliament to pass it urgently.

Hatega stressed that if the Bill is passed, it would protect and promote the business sector and would enhance Uganda's competitiveness.

The Attorney General, Dr. Khiddu Makubuya, this year presented the Trademark's Bill before Parliament.

The Bill which is under consultation, notes that some of the aspects in the current law on trademarks based on the United Kingdom Act have become outdated, especially on present day policies, international obliga- tions, globalisation and technological developments.