WAKISO, June 30, 2025 – – The Uganda National Bureau of Standards [UNBS], in collaboration with the Eastern Africa Grain Council [EAGC], has launched a training campaign targeting Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises [ MSMEs ] engaged in grain handling, testing, and grading.
This comprehensive initiative aims to enhance grain quality management, combat the widespread problem of aflatoxin contamination, and boost the grain industry. The effort aligns with the new UNBS value proposition of supporting MSMEs to grow through tailored support and equipping them with critical knowledge and skills in food safety.
The training also seeks to promote consumer protection, ensure fair trade, and improve the competitiveness of locally produced goods in both regional and international markets.
Speaking at a training session held recently at the UNBS head offices in Bweyogerere, Wakiso district Patricia Bageine Ejalu, the Deputy Executive Director in charge of standards, emphasised the importance of grain quality, noting that grains and grain products are among the most consumed in Uganda. She urged MSMEs to collaborate with the government to enhance product standards.
“When producing food, you hold people’s lives in your hands. Comply with standards to ensure quality and safe products on the market, because very soon, no grain product will be traded in or out of Uganda without a Q-mark [quality mark] and a Sanitary and Phytosanitary [SPS] permit,” she said.
Data shows that over 40 percent of grain harvested in Uganda is lost due to poor post-harvest handling practices across the value chain, resulting in an estimated annual loss of at least US$45 million. These losses not only undermine food security but also limit the country’s ability to compete effectively in regional markets such as Kenya, South Sudan, and Rwanda.
Ongoing collaboration between government agencies and the private sector reflects a shared commitment to improving the quality of grain and grain products across the supply chain.
Paul Ochuna, the Uganda Country Manager for the EAGC, commended the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve safety standards and protect consumers.
“This training comes at a pivotal moment for Uganda’s grain sector. With growing demand from regional markets, ensuring our grain meets the required quality and safety standards is not optional—it is essential,” he said. “By equipping MSMEs and quality officers with practical skills, we are strengthening Uganda’s competitiveness, reducing post-harvest losses, and unlocking trade opportunities worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”
The Eastern Africa Grain Council [EAGC] is a regional organisation with members from 10 African countries: Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, South Sudan, DR Congo, and Ethiopia.
Key EAGC services include promoting a structured trading system [STS] through warehouse receipting systems [WRS], a regional grain trading platform [GSoko], Market Information Systems [MIS] provided through the Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network [RATIN], and evidence-based policy advocacy, as well as training and capacity-building through the Grain Business Institute [GBI].
https://thecooperator.news/unbs-and-maaif-join-forces-to-ensure-standards-in-pdm-implementation/
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