Businessmen blame UNBS for counterfeit goods on market
WAKISO, May 6, 2025 – The business community in Kampala and surrounding areas has blamed the Uganda National Bureau of Standards [UNBS] for the persistent presence of counterfeit and substandard goods on the local market.
During a dialogue between UNBS and private sector representatives, traders urged the standards body to issue the Quality Mark [Q-Mark] to eligible businesses to enable their products to be sold legally and confidently in the market.
The meeting, held at the UNBS offices in Bweyogerere, Kira Municipality, Wakiso district, focused on strategies to combat illicit trade more effectively.
The traders called on UNBS to prioritise enforcement efforts on importers and manufacturers of counterfeit goods, rather than focusing primarily on supermarkets and retailers.
Brave Asiimwe, proprietor of Tendo Yerusalemi and Zion Supermarkets in Mukono and Lugazi, criticised the agency’s inspection methods, saying UNBS inspectors often raid shops and confiscate goods despite having full details of the suppliers.
“We are at the tail end of the supply chain. UNBS needs to trace the origins of these products. There is little we can change at our level, apart from refusing to stock certain items,” Asiimwe said.
Judith Akello, proprietor of Lamema Supermarkets in Nakawa, called for increased sensitisation of the business community, pointing out that many business owners violate regulations unknowingly.
“For instance, I wasn’t fully aware of the packaging requirements for in-house products, such as bread, until UNBS guided us on what was needed,” she said.
Due to lengthy delays in issuing the Q-Mark, many manufacturers resort to using interim documentation from UNBS indicating that certification is in progress. These documents are used to assure retailers that their products are safe for sale, despite lacking formal approval.
However, UNBS has stated that such documents are not legally binding and do not guarantee a product’s quality or safety.
The engagement provided the agency with insights into the challenges faced by different segments of the business community in complying with standards.
Sylvia Kirabo, Head of Marketing and Public Relations at UNBS, noted that their sensitisation programme targets both local and imported goods, aiming to reduce the health risks posed by counterfeit products.
“Importers struggle to meet the requirements under the Uganda Pre-Export Verification of Conformity [PVoC] system,” Kirabo explained. “PVoC mandates that goods destined for Uganda must be inspected and verified in the country of origin or before reaching the region’s first point of entry.”
She added, “If goods enter Uganda without a Certificate of Conformity, they are destroyed at the trader’s expense. This often leads to frustration, especially when traders do not understand the system or face difficulties locating PVoC agents appointed by UNBS.”
UNBS also highlighted the challenge of limited enforcement capacity, noting that many counterfeit goods are smuggled into the country, complicating efforts to curb the trade.
https://thecooperator.news/unbs-and-maaif-join-forces-to-ensure-standards-in-pdm-implementation/
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