UNBS certifies six face mask producers

COVID-19 |

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has certified six companies to produce non-medical facemasks, to protect Ugandans from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The six are expected to supplement Nytil, a logistics manufacturer which had been earlier contracted to produce the face masks for countrywide distribution, before easing the lockdown.

In a televised address, President Yoweri Museveni had conditioned easing of the lockdown on the production and distribution of face masks countrywide.

However, MPs asked the government to involve ordinary citizens in the production of masks, to fast track their production and distribution, to more than 30million people in a very short time.

In a press statement, the standards regulator said:" This is in line with the UNBS mandate of consumer protection, aimed at protecting Ugandans from buying substandard non-medical facemasks, which could be harmful to their health, in the wake of COVID-19".

The certified companies include Lida Packaging Products Ltd, Southern range Nyanza Limited, Evergreen Safaries limited, Jude color solutions Limited, Winfred Fashion designers Limited, and Fine Spinners Limited.

According to UNBS publicist, the number of companies certified to manufacture non-medical facemasks is expected to increase, with more than 55 already requesting certification.

"UNBS is also giving out free non-medical facemask standards to aid certification of facemask manufacturers and mass production of non-medical facemasks that meet the national quality standards," she said.