Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, has called on the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to prioritise helping local manufacturers and protecting consumers instead of acting like a police force for businesses.
Mwebesa made the remarks in Kampala during the induction of the newly appointed 10th National Standards Council (NSC), chaired by veteran industrialist Eng. James Kalibbala. The council is the highest policy and oversight body for UNBS, which is responsible for setting and enforcing product standards in the country.
He told the new board to focus on service delivery by providing timely support to businesses and helping them meet quality requirements. The minister urged them to roll out continuous training programmes for manufacturers, traders, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) so that they can produce goods that meet national and international standards.
“The business community must receive timely and quality services and programmes from UNBS,” Mwebesa said. “Steer the bureau back to service delivery through continuous training programmes on standards geared towards nurturing our local manufacturers and MSMEs.”
The minister also challenged the new leadership to repair the bureau’s image, which he said had been badly damaged by past corruption scandals. The 9th NSC was dissolved last year, and the former executive director was dismissed over allegations of graft and poor performance.
“UNBS was seen as a rotten and corrupt institution. You have a big challenge ahead of you to clean up the image of UNBS. Take charge and let us see the bureau shine again,” Mwebesa told the council.
Council chairperson Eng. Kalibbala promised to restore public trust in the bureau and to position Uganda as a producer of quality goods for both the domestic and export markets.
“We shall provide the necessary oversight role to UNBS and position Uganda as a producer and exporter of quality assured goods and services,” Kalibbala said.
UNBS executive director, Eng. James Kasigwa, noted that the appointment of the new council was timely, as the bureau had been operating without a board for more than six months. He said the council’s oversight would improve the bureau’s capacity to enforce standards and open up new export opportunities, particularly for MSMEs looking to compete in regional and global markets.
The new 10th NSC members include Dr. John Patrick Kabayo as vice chairperson, Maj. Dr. Atwoki John Mathias Rusoke Tagaswiire, Mr. Ainebyona Denis, Ms. Hawa Nsubuga Lule, Prof. Mnason Tweheyo, Ms. Stella Nyapendi Chombo, and Kasigwa, who will also serve as council secretary.
During the induction, members were briefed on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and the role of UNBS in industrial growth and consumer protection.
The UNBS is a government agency mandated to develop, promote, and enforce standards for goods and services in Uganda. It plays a key role in safeguarding public health, protecting the environment, and boosting Uganda’s competitiveness in global trade. However, in recent years, the bureau has faced accusations of corruption, delays in service delivery, and harassment of small traders, which has eroded public confidence.
Analysts say the new council’s performance will be closely watched, as Uganda’s manufacturing sector is under pressure to meet East African Community (EAC) and global standards in order to increase exports. With MSMEs accounting for more than 80% of Uganda’s private sector employment, the bureau’s role in building capacity for small producers is seen as critical to job creation and economic growth.
If the reforms succeed, Uganda could see a stronger presence in regional markets for agricultural products, processed foods, textiles, and manufactured goods, while also protecting consumers from substandard or counterfeit products at home.
