KAMPALA, UGANDA – Ugandan business owners are expressing strong opposition to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), citing extensive delays in product certification that are crippling business growth and stifling competitiveness.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The concerns emerged during a high-level meeting convened by Col. Edith Nakalema of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), where micro, small, and medium enterprise owners confronted UNBS leadership directly.
During the meeting, Col. Nakalema revealed that many business people have waited over 300 days for product certification and emphasized that her role is to ensure government offices do not cause unnecessary delays for investors.
She confirmed the meeting was held at the direct request of President Museveni, who is pushing for a swift resolution to enhance the market competitiveness of Ugandan products.
Dr. Gaster Lule Ntake, MD of Ntake Group, criticized UNBS for its high service charges and slow processes, while local entrepreneur Mr. Sonko Peter argued for the removal of certain fees, particularly those for documents that should be free.
Dr. Anna Nakanwagi Mukwaya, a public health specialist and entrepreneur, accused UNBS of a systemic lack of accountability, stating that no one takes responsibility for delays and that managers hide behind rules to avoid being held accountable.
She directly challenged the supervising Ministry of Trade, demanding to know why it was failing in its oversight role and not ensuring UNBS performs effectively.
In response, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade Ms. Lynette Bagonza issued a formal apology to business owners, acknowledging that the government’s role should be to support rather than hinder their success.
She pledged that the government would develop a clear plan to reduce delays at UNBS, emphasizing that resolving this issue is critical for Uganda’s economic growth.
Potential solutions discussed included extending certificate validity from one to two years and increasing UNBS staffing and funding to improve processing efficiency.
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