The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has strengthened its collaboration with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) following a two-day technical engagement aimed at enhancing Uganda’s participation in international electrotechnical standardization and conformity assessment.
The engagement brought together experts from the IEC Regional Office for Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, and members of Uganda’s National Committee of the IEC who also serve as UNBS technical officers, focusing on building the capacity of Uganda’s IEC National Committee and Secretariat and equipping stakeholders with practical knowledge on how to derive greater value from Uganda’s IEC membership.
Uganda became an IEC Associate Member in 2020, giving the country access to the IEC catalogue of international standards and opportunities to participate in the development and review of international electrotechnical standards. These standards can subsequently be adopted as national standards and provide a basis for ensuring the safety, quality and performance of electrical and electronic products on the Ugandan market.
The UNBS Executive Director who also doubles as the Secretary of Uganda’s National Committee of the IEC, Eng. James Kasigwa, emphasized that effective implementation of IEC standards is important for both consumer protection and environmental sustainability, particularly as Uganda experiences increasing use and importation of electrical and electronic products.
“This is about consumer protection, safe trade and environmental protection. We must ensure that products entering the Ugandan market are safe and comply with the requirements of the relevant standards. As our economies become increasingly electrified and digitized, we must also pay attention to the environmental implications of electrical and electronic products, including electronic waste,” he said.
UNBS has so far adopted more than 288 IEC standards covering areas including electrical appliances, cables, e-mobility, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, lighting and renewable energy technologies. More than 99 percent of the standards applied in the UNBS electrical laboratory for testing cables, household appliances, solar panels and switchgear are IEC-based, with a focus on safety and performance.
The Ag. Manager Standards at UNBS, Dr. Safina Namugga Ngobya, appreciated the IEC team for the engagement, noting that Uganda needs to further leverage its membership to strengthen implementation of standards, particularly for electronics and electric products, and power systems imported into the country.
The Senior Standards Officer in charge of Electrotechnical Technology at UNBS, Ms. Winnie Grace Onziru, noted that the practical training on IEC conformity assessment was particularly important because Uganda had not previously had an opportunity to receive comprehensive guidance on how to maximize the benefits of its IEC membership since joining in 2020.
The engagement also focused on IEC conformity assessment schemes training, including schemes relating to electrical appliances, renewable energy and explosive environments. This knowledge will support UNBS import inspection and market surveillance teams, as well as Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) service providers, to identify genuine conformity assessment claims and strengthen efforts to prevent counterfeit and substandard electrical and electronic products from entering the Ugandan market.
The IEC Regional Director for Africa, François Ahoti, said the IEC Regional Centre, established in 2015 and based in Nairobi, supports African members through capacity building and technical assistance.
“Uganda has been an IEC Associate Member since 2020, and we are here to offer support in building capacity and benefiting more from the IEC membership. Our role is to help members participate in international standardization and strengthen the conformity assessment systems they use in Africa,” Ahoti said.
He emphasized that African countries need to participate in international standardization and strengthen conformity assessment systems to ensure products entering their markets are safe and fit for purpose.
IEC work directly impacts more than 20% of goods traded globally, including electrical and electronic products, primary energy and vehicles. The IEC estimates that electrical and electronic devices account for approximately 23.8% (approximately USD 5,260 trillion) of global trade, demonstrating the significant role of electrotechnical standards in facilitating safe and sustainable trade.
The engagement is expected to strengthen Uganda’s participation in international standardization, enhance technical capacity in conformity assessment and support effective implementation of electrotechnical standards to protect consumers, facilitate safe trade and promote sustainable development.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) underpins the design, manufacturing, testing and certification of all electrical and electronic technologies in the world, since its foundation in 1906. It currently brings together close to 170 countries, and about 30 000 experts to cooperate on the global IEC platform to ensure that electrical and electronic products work everywhere safely with each other.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards is a government agency mandated to develop, promote and enforce standards to protect public health, safety, and the environment as well as ensure fairness in trade and precision in industry through reliable measurement systems
