BACKGROUND.

In Uganda, like most less developed countries there is a general lack of comprehension of trade issues and their relationship to sustainable development - by capital officials and district commercial officers, civil society and the small-scale business community. Government is not in a position to provide trade-related quality services and information to its clientele, whereas Ugandan non-governmental stakeholders in trade issues – that is mainly small-scale producers and civil society – are not able to identify their specific interests and concerns, let alone to advocate for them effectively in the relevant trade fora.  What Ugandan stakeholders in trade policy need is a comprehensive programme implemented by a non-partisan actor which promotes the facilitation of a non-emotional debate on relevant trade issues as they relate to development and poverty eradication in Uganda – thereby helping to put trade on Uganda's development agenda.

 ACTADE is in a unique position to take on this role as it has the experience, qualifications and interest in trade and sustainable development issues, and was founded mainly to generate and disseminate trade-related information in an effort to help reduction poverty