UNBS, Trade Mark EA sign partnership to boost standards

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The Uganda National Bureau of Standards has signed a deal with Trade Mark East Africa aimed at enhancing standardisation and export of agro-industrial products.

The signing ceremony took place today (Monday, March 03) at UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere.

The partnership will among other things facilitate capacity building, Mobile Quality Assurance Testing Equipment to serve selected Border communities of Goli, Paidha & Vurra in Uganda and Mahagi & Aru on the DRC side.

It will also support UNBS in gaining accreditation for its three regional laboratories in Gulu, Mbale, and Mbarara and expand the scope of accredited laboratories.

Meanwhile, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is developing a personnel certification scheme to endorse members within registered associations to carry out initial audit assessments before manufacturers apply to UNBS for certification.

This was disclosed by the UNBS Deputy Executive Director in charge of Standards, Patricia Bageine Ejalu, during a panel discussion at the 2nd Manufacturers’ Pre-budget Breakfast Dialogue 2025, held at the Uganda Manufacturers’ Association (UMA) multi-purpose hall.

Bageine said that the move would encourage self-regulation, thus improving the quality of products on the market.

Personnel Certification will be the third certification scheme done by UNBS after product certification and systems certification.

She further urged manufacturers to apply for certification of their products, emphasizing that an increase in the number of products complying with the requirements of relevant standards will reduce the number of counterfeit products on the market.

She also called for increased standards development and sensitization of manufacturers about standards, certification and other UNBS services.

She implored manufacturers to seek laboratory recognition of their laboratories so that UNBS can use their test results in the certification process.