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UNBS gets UGX5.5 bn for agri-biz standards

Peter 12th Mar, 2025 Industry Pedson Mumbere
UNBS gets UGX5.5 bn for agri-biz standards

A worker loads processed maize flour. UNBS is building its capacity to empower the agri-business industry so as to supply both the domestic and export markets. FILE PHOTO


The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has secured UGX 5.5 billion (USD 1.5 million) from TradeMark Africa (TMA) to enhance the standardization of agro-industrial products by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The funding aims to improve product quality and ensure that Ugandan-made goods meet regional and international market requirements, positioning local businesses for global competitiveness.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere, TMA Country Director Anna Nambooze emphasized the crucial role MSMEs play in Uganda’s economic development, stressing the need to enhance their capacity to meet regulatory and quality standards.

  • “Uganda ranks among the top five most entrepreneurial nations, and MSMEs are the bloodline of its business sector. However, many struggle to meet the required quality standards for market access. This support will go a long way in ensuring that more local products are competitive beyond Uganda’s borders,” Nambooze said.

Standardization in agro-industries has far-reaching benefits that extend beyond mere quality control. It plays a crucial role in ensuring food safety, facilitating international trade, and improving overall productivity.

Worldwide, ensuring quality standards plays a crucial role in the agricultural sector, significantly impacting quality control, safety standards, and trade implications. Standardization ensures uniformity in product quality, which is essential for consumer trust and market competitiveness.

  • Products meeting recognized standards are perceived as more reliable and of higher quality, opening doors to new markets and higher-value segments. Compliance with safety standards, often mandated by governments, protects public health and ensures that food products meet specific safety criteria throughout the production chain.
UNBS gets UGX5.5 bn for agri-biz standardsUNBS ED James Kasigwa (M) and TMA Country Director Anna Nambooze (2R) display the agreement at the UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere, as other officials looks on. COURTESY PHOTO

Standardization in safety practices significantly reduces the risk of foodborne. Standardization enhances the competitiveness of domestic products in the global market, leading to increased exports and better market positioning illnesses.

The 12-month Partner Support Agreement would fund mobile quality assurance testing equipment to serve border communities in Goli, Paidha, and Vurra (Uganda) and Mahagi & Aruu (DRC). This initiative will strengthen Uganda’s trade facilitation efforts, ensuring that locally produced goods adhere to safety and quality requirements before entering international markets.

Additionally, the funding is to support accreditation services to expand the scope of Gulu, Mbale, and Mbarara regional laboratories, enabling them to certify more products for export and domestic consumption. The Busia Border Post Laboratory will also be equipped with advanced product testing facilities to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, minimizing the risk of substandard goods in the market.

To further strengthen the sector, the initiative will support training and certification programs in Global GAP Integrated Farm Assurance, ECOMARK, Personnel Certification, and Food Safety.

  • This will benefit UNBS auditors, MAAIF farm assurers, and private sector players, improving their expertise in quality assurance and regulatory compliance. UNBS will also conduct awareness campaigns to educate MSMEs on the importance of standardization and certification in accessing both local and international markets.
  • UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa welcomed the funding, highlighting its significance in Uganda’s broader industrialization and economic transformation strategy.

“In the next five years, we aim to grow MSMEs and strengthen their ability to supply both the domestic and export markets. This will drive industrialization, import substitution, and export promotion, in line with the National Development Plan IV and Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040. We must be intentional about building Uganda,” Kasigwa stated.

The UNBS officials expressed gratitude to TradeMark Africa and its partners, including the Danish Government (DANIDA) through the Uganda Trade Support Project, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Standards Partnership Project, and the European Union’s Uganda-DRC Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Project.

This collaboration is expected to empower local enterprises, drive industrial growth, and solidify Uganda’s position in the international market.

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