Traders angered by batteries ruling

Mar 07, 2004

Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), are up in arms with the Government and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in particular over the banning of two types of battery cells, Tiger Head and Tiger Cat.

By David Muwanga

Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), are up in arms with the Government and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in particular over the banning of two types of battery cells, Tiger Head and Tiger Cat.

They criticised the Government for banning only two products when there are many other products on the market like drugs, foodstuffs, electronic products, mobile phones among others that need to be properly legislated upon by the authorities.

KACITA conceded that “the batteries in question are below standard, it should however be noted that there are other batteries that do not measure to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) standards,” they said in a statement last week.

In a November 2003 letter, UNBS wrote to all relevant business interests cautioning them on compliance with Uganda standard for primary batteries, the most commonly used.

“Following public outcry on the quality of primary batteries imported and marketed into the country and in line with government policy of protecting the public against, substandard and counterfeit imported goods, the authority instituted a programme of sampling and testing of these imported batteries to monitor their quality,” reads the letter signed by the UNBS executive director, Dr. Terry Kahuma (left).

He said the results of the exercise showed that most of the batteries failed to meet the parameters.

“Primary batteries are not supposed to leak even when they are fully drained, leaking batteries damage electronic items, the environment and pose a serious health risk to users especially children,” he said.

“Most batteries tested showed signs of bulging while in use and could pose problems in removing them when used in such items as torches,”.

With effect from November 15, 2003 test certificates from accredited laboratories from the country of origin must accompany all consignments of imported batteries. In addition, sampling of batteries for laboratory testing at the importers cost shall continue until consistence in conformity is obtained.

This is all against a background of a Statutory Instrument on external trade issued in 2003 banning importation of the two types of batteries three months after the coming into force of the order.

It was signed by the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry Prof. Edward Rugumayo
“The best solution is banning all substandard batteries on the market,” Sekitto said.

UNBS officer in charge of Imports inspection Mukasa Gyaviira, told the traders that due to lack of machinery in 1997, they took samples to Kenya where most of the cells failed the tests and they recommended to the ministry to ban the batteries.

“Our sister countries banned these cells between 1999-2000 but they were dumped on our market and the countries pressurised us to ban,’ he said.

He said in 2000, with assistance from United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and government started on the process of assessing them.

He said UNBS took 288 samples of tiger cat batteries but 250 of them failed tests, others were leaking and destroyed the machinery and they recommended for a ban.

“We tested 788 samples of tiger head and 76 percent failed tests, they would leak and expand and worst of all batteries are not supposed to leak even if drained,” he said.

“As I speak Uganda’s fruits and vegetable exports are about to be banned because they contain high levels of chemicals,”.

“With effect from March last year we started imports inspection at the borders and when we asked the ministry how far they had gone with recommendations made, they told us they were still consulting,”.

“So we said as we wait for the results of consultations, we formulate standards, last year on September 3, the Minister signed the instrument, October 3 last year the law was gazetted, it became effective December 24 but we got the statutory instrument on February 4, this year,”.

The gazetted law that was taken to Entebbe for printing and we expect it to be out on March 3, 2004 talks of only two types mentioned and it gives importers three months during which to consult.

“But when URA heard about it they gave express orders to impound containers, I request you to be calm,” he said.

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