The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has called for stronger adoption of quality standards across the economy, saying effective regulation and compliance will be critical in driving Uganda’s industrial transformation and protecting consumers.
The call was made during the 7th Heads of Government Agencies (HOGA) meeting held at the UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere Industrial Area, bringing together accounting officers and chief executives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to discuss improved service delivery under the government’s “Kisanja No Sleep” directive.
UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa said building a standards-based economy requires collaboration across government institutions, businesses and consumers, noting that quality should become part of every production and service chain.
“As the custodian of national standards, UNBS remains committed to promoting and enforcing compliance to standards to guarantee product quality, consumer safety, and fair trade,” Kasigwa said.
He said standardising processes across MDAs and the private sector is essential for achieving Uganda’s long-term economic ambitions, including the Ten-Fold Growth Strategy aimed at expanding the economy to $500 billion by 2040.
Kasigwa also addressed recent public concerns over alleged underweight cement bags, assuring the public that UNBS is engaging manufacturers and strengthening surveillance across the supply chain.
“We have engaged certified cement manufacturers nationwide to ensure strict adherence to relevant weight and safety standards requirements,” he said.
He explained that UNBS market surveillance indicates that some cases of underweight cement are linked to activities carried out after products leave factories, including unauthorised tampering, siphoning and repackaging during transportation and at retail points.
“Recent UNBS market surveillance reports indicate that instances of underweight cement often stem from unauthorized tampering, siphoning, or repackaging during transit and retail. Eliminating these illicit practices requires a synchronized effort from all stakeholders; regulators, security agencies and consumers,” Kasigwa said.
He called on all players in the supply chain to take responsibility in ensuring that only quality and standards-compliant products reach consumers.
“Every player across the value chain should demand for and deliver quality products,” he added.
During the meeting, delegates toured UNBS’s internationally accredited testing facilities, including food safety laboratories, national metrology laboratories and the National Energy Meters Laboratory, which support consumer protection, industrial manufacturing and fair trade.
Deputy Head of Public Service in charge of Performance and Service Delivery Jane Kyarisima Mwesiga commended UNBS for using international accreditation to strengthen Uganda’s competitiveness in local and global markets.
“Government’s deliberate investments in state-of-the-art quality infrastructure—such as the accredited laboratories witnessed here at UNBS—is fundamental to industrialization,” Mwesiga said.
She urged Ugandans and institutions to embrace standards as a foundation for export growth and sustainable economic transformation, saying quality assurance remains key to building a competitive economy.
The Heads of Government Agencies (HoGA) meeting is a quarterly coordination forum that brings together leaders from government institutions to strengthen collaboration and improve service delivery.
Coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister, the meetings are held every three months and rotate among different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to address challenges and enhance efficiency in government operations.
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