EXPO | WOMEN | EXHIBITORS 

KAMPALA - Although stalls at the 2023 Harvest Money expo had many genuine Ugandan-made products, exhibitors have decried the bureaucratic process they have to endure to get the Uganda National Bureau Standards (UNBS) to satisfy their products. 

The exhibitors say the process is expensive, long and difficult, and yet they still have to pay taxes to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), making their products largely uncompetitive within the East African region. 

Female exhibitors showcase Bella Wine at the Harvest Money Expo. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

“We would like to pay taxes but we don’t have quality marks on our products so that we can sell them beyond Uganda. The process of getting a mark is tedious and expensive. 

Also, when the standard body carries out training, they choose venues that are difficult for us to access. We are requesting them to conduct training at grass root level also,” Grace Bisaso working with Catholic Women Guild in Wakiso district, said.

The women exhibitors also seek funding opportunities from the Government in order to boost their businesses and acquire loans at a low-interest rate. 

A female exhibitor from YALELO Fish. (Credit: Marria Wamala)

“We request the Government to support our businesses. Most of the farmers in remote areas are still using rudimentary tools because they do not have money. Government microfinance institutions should have better interest rates that match what farmers earn,” Bisaso said.

Mariam Nalubega also said getting quality marks from UNBS is a challenge and called upon the Government to intervene against those who deal sell fake agricultural inputs like fertilisers and pesticides. 

“We shall not be able to pay taxes if we do not have quality marks,” she said.

The expo, organized by Vision Group, was sponsored by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Agriculture Ministry, National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), Pepsi, Engineering Solutions Ltd (ENGSOL), RIELA/UPFRONT, Agricultural Credit faculty, Uganda warehouse Receipt Systems Authority, Champrisa International and State House.