There are both intangible and tangible benefits which UTA Members derive from its existence and being members. Intangible benefits are at times difficult to describe or explain. The write up touches both of them; however, it does not actually exhaust all of them.
There are many things that companies aspire to achieve which can make them satisfied of what they are engaged in or feel proud of their existence in addition to financial gains. Some of these are intangible upon which no financialvalue can be placed.
What follows are some of the benefits.
UTA members collectively have a voice that can not easily be ignored by either government or its departments and various organizations both national and international.
Numerous contacts that are of benefits to members are made through UTA and disseminated to members e.g., training opportunities. So, it is a link between the tea industry and government and other organizations or a point of reference on issues pertaining to the Uganda tea industry.
Through UTA, Uganda tea industry players/members have the opportunity to come together as a family and discuss common problems affecting the industry and find solutions. This is so bearing in mind that members are not competing with each other, but in majority of cases face common problems, which would be easier to face as a united body other than as individuals e.g., lmproper taxes etc,
UTA represents members to various bodies both national and international that bring out issues of concern in various forums, the media, carrying out necessary interventions etc. in the interest of the entire private sector of which UTA members are part and partial. E.G. the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE), the Uganda Manufactures Association ( UMA), the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda (ICGU l),the Uganda Export Promotion Board ( UEPB),the Agricultura Council of Uganda (ACU),National Agricultural Research Organization(NARO),Uganda National Bureau of Standards(UNBS),the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU),lnternational Tea Committee (lTC),the East African Tea Trade Association ( EATTA),Food Agriculture Organization(FAO), lnternational Labour , Organization (lLO), here UTA demystified issues of Child Labour by taking it on "by the horn". All members and staff concerned were sensitized. Training of Trainers (TOT) was carries out and they in return trained change agents. This exercise was financed by ILO/ Ect-emp through FUE. In some of the child labour surveys in Commercial Agriculture (Tea) -IPEC and ACCEL exonerated large tea estates of any child labour practices.
UTA attends various meetings, representing the interests of the tea industry, where in many cases petitions against certain proposals that are not in the interest the industry are made and submitted to the concerned.
UTA represents members on various ministries task forces, working groups/team that design government intervention programs, policy formulation etc. in the tea sector. For example, UTA was part of the team that updated the proposed "National Tea Development Policy." UTA was a member of the team within the Ministry of Tourism Trade and Industry to oversee the implementation of the government strategic program to promote tea export. UTA was also appointed lead institution to implement the National Export Strategy (NES) program for the tea sector.
EATTA Management Committee in Uganda: Probably EATTA would not even think of holding their meetings I Uganda if there was not a united body like UTA. Their coming here is quite beneficialto the Uganda tea industry.
UTA has resisted and continues to resist certain taxes being proposed by the local administrations which ignore the contribution of tea industry to the welfare of the people employed in the tea industry and other who thrive because of the industry's presence. Attempted imposition of cess in an example. lf it had succeeded in one district it would have spread to other districts very fast.
Labour Union negotiations: The strength of UTA is exhibited in attempts bythe Union to tear/divide up UTA so that they would handle individual companies separately because that way they would have it better than facing a united group speaking with one voice. UTA facilitates salaries and wages negotiations between the tea industry employers and workers' Union and settlement of disputes within the tea industry.
UTA is given the mandate to speak for the entire Uganda tea industry. lt is the custodian of
production data, export data, etc. that is used for planning purposes within the country
,and also outside the country. UTA is the contact body by government and government
departments, National and International agencies, NGOs etc., who may be seeking
information for policy purposes on the tea industry or collaboration in various ways.
Al those who want information on the tea industry do not have to contact each and every
tea company to get what they want but do so at one stop Centre (UTA Secretariat). This
allows members to concentrate on the affairs of running their plantations and factories.
UTA is a member of the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda (ICGU). This is a 'testimony that the Uganda tea industry upholds the value of good governance and therefore an enterprise that upholds international best practices in corporate governance. To be recognized as such is very important for the tea industry of Uganda as a whole.
UTA carried out Occupational Heath and Safety (OHS) research to sensitize owners and managers, trained trainers who continue to train employees of the different cadres throughout the industry.