National standardisation strategy launched

KAMPALA - The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has launched the first National Standardisation Strategy (2019-2022) as a roadmap for developing standards in key priority sectors of the Ugandan economy.

The three-year strategy was developed in consultation with several stakeholders including an industry expert in manufacturing, Export Trade, Agribusiness, and Consumer Organisations, among others. It was supported by the Commonwealth Standards Network(CSN).

Speaking at the launch in Kampala, Amelia Kyambadde, the minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, said the National Standardization Strategy will improve the competitiveness of Uganda's products and services thus promoting Buy Uganda Build Uganda(BUBU) policy and improving access to regional and international markets.

During the implementation of the three-year strategy, 2,064 priority standards will be developed in key sectors of the economy including chemicals, consumer products, engineering, food, and agriculture as wells as systems and services.

The government through UNBS is expected to spend sh4.6b to effectively develop the identified standards in the strategy.

In his speech, Ben Manyindo, the UNBS executive director said the strategy has been designed to support economic growth and national development plans.

"We have developed standards in sectors that contribute to the national GDP and national exports and imports in addition to addressing the most pressing non-economic issues such as security, safety, and quality of products in the market," said Manyindo.

The areas for standards development were guided by results from the review and analysis of the national data on contribution to GDP, export, and import, research of non-economic areas that are of key priority and review of the National Development Plans to identify emerging sectors, which are expected to have significant importance in the transformation of the Uganda economy.

"The strategy addresses social and environmental issues facing the population such as health, safety, and environment protection, poor infrastructure and quality of services, poor skills, and unemployment. It also addresses the need for standards that contribute to enterprise competitiveness, productivity, and market access," Dr. Manyindo noted.