In a bid to scale up ugandas export base,Uganda National Bureau of Standards and TradeMark Africa have launched a media initiative to improve reporting on quality standards, as the bureau shifts toward a business-support model
According to UNBS Deputy Executive Director Patricia Bageine Ejalu, the bureau is decentralizing its operations with regional laboratories in Gulu, Mbale and Mbarara to test food and agricultural products.
“By collaborating with media, UNBS seeks to make quality standards a mainstream, well-understood topic that drives market demand for better, safer products in Uganda,”she said.
She said the agency aims to test 100,000 product samples annually to reduce congestion at its central facility in Bweyogerere.
“Standards are not barriers to trade; they are enablers of competitiveness its on this basis that Uganda’s development requires improved adherence to quality standards by producers, importers, and exporters,”she stated.
“Using media to educate the public on identifying certified products, especially with the introduction of Digital Conformity Marks for traceability and adherence to international standards will boost exports and strengthen local business credibility, supporting the National Development Plan IV goals for industrialization,”Ejalu stressed.
Deus Mubangizi, the Acting Deputy Executive Director for compliance, said the bureau wants to be viewed as a partner to the private sector rather than a hurdle.
“We should be seen as business enablers rather than merely an enforcement agency,” Mubangizi said. “We are handholding businesses to help them understand what to certify, where to certify, and why certification is important for marketability.”
Anna Nambooze, the Uganda and South Sudan Country Director for TradeMark Africa, said the initiative is critical for regional trade. She noted that certification reduces the rejection of goods at borders and helps small businesses access markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“If all export products meet quality standards, Uganda will earn more from international markets,” Nambooze said.
James Kasigwa, the executive director of the bureau, said the partnership with the media will include regional training sessions for journalists to ensure accurate reporting on consumer safety and substandard goods.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards is the statutory body responsible for developing and enforcing national standards to protect public health and ensure fair trade
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is strengthening media reporting to bridge the gap in public awareness regarding product quality and safety, combat the rise of counterfeit goods, and promote the adoption of standards among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
This initiative aims to increase consumer demand for quality, improve competitiveness, and ensure safety in line with national development goals
Counterfeit products pose a major economic threat to Uganda, with losses estimated in the billions of shillings annually through lost taxes and revenue for legitimate businesses, though a precise, single national figure is often difficult to pinpoint
While global counterfeiting is a $500 billion problem, the localized impact on Uganda is a significant drain on tax revenue and a threat to consumer health.