By Joseph Wanzusi

The business community has been urged to deal only in certified quality manufactured products as a way of eliminating fake goods from the market.

“To compete favourably and grow your businesses, you should invest in quality products that are well packaged, verified and labelled before putting them on the market,” Dr. Ben Manyindo, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) acting boss, told small scale manufacturers, weighing scale repairers, farmers, produce dealers, retail and wholesale traders in Mbale last week.

Manyindo said the standards watchdog had embarked on a campaign to boost awareness on quality standards of consumer products.

“UNBS has launched a campaign to remove sub-standard products from the market by providing information and engaging the community to be part of this effort as the country marks its jubilee year,” Manyindo added.

He said UNBS was coming up with guidelines to help supermarkets address quality issues like improper storage of food items where they are mixed up with chemicals like soap because of limited space.

But the participants complained of the high fees charged for acquiring UNBS marks.

They also urged UNBS to intensify operations so that traders who sell genuine products are not pushed out of business.

Manyindo disclosed that UNBS had ordered modern equipment to test electricity meters for commercial and domestic use.

He said effective November, all imports will be inspected in the country of origin before they are shipped into the Uganda. Manyindo urged the business community to provide information on people who adulterate products.