by Ward Warmerdam & Meine Pieter van Dijk
Abstract
Chinese petty traders are the most popular and yet most controversial foreign population that most Africans meet and engage with on a regular basis. Although the quality of their goods is suspect, their contribution of affordable goods to some African societies is recognized. There has been much discontent directed towards them, especially by small traders, because they are seen as undercutting local traders, not contributing to the local economy, and only interested in short-term gain. This paper examines the role of Chinese traders in Kampala, Uganda and their contributions to that country’s economy according to a number of economic indicators as informed by the survey that the authors conducted in Kampala in 2012. It also analyses the Ugandan government’s attitude toward these traders, the policies it implements, and the prospects for further investment in Uganda
Ward Warmerdam is a Ph.D. candidate at the international Institute of Social Sciences in the Hague and an economic research at Profundo. His research focuses on China’s engagement with Africa. Prior to his current position he lived in China for ten years running his own consultancy and language institute.
Meine Pieter van Dijk , an economist, is eminent professor of Water Services Management, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft, professor of entrepreneurship, Maastricht School of Management, and professor of urban management, the Institute of Social Studies and the Institute of Housing and Urban Development Studies, Erasmus University. He is editor of The New Presence of China in Africa (2009).