UNBS launches operation “fake†steel producing firms
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards has launched a massive crack down on steel factories producing “fake steel†products.
By Patrick Jaramogi
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards has launched a massive crack down on steel factories producing “fake steel†products.
Last week Tembo Steels Limited located in Lugazi was closed after it was discovered that the steels being produced where not commiserate with Uganda National Bureau of Standards.
“We have launched this operation after receiving complaints from the public,†said Moses Ssebunya the UNBS publicist.
The watch dog quality and surveillance officer Tom Lule told New Vision that Tembo steel was closed after their steel was found “wantingâ€.
“The steel they were producing were not meeting our set standards,†said Lule.
Lule who headed the operation that closed Tembo said the operation would continue until standards are met.
However Tembo Steels Limited chief executive Rajesh Nair said his factory was not closed. ‘It was a normal operation check. It is true we had some issues but we have sorted it out and we are open now,†he said.
Tembo Steels Uganda Limited commenced its operations in 2002 and is currently one of East Africa’s largest steel companies with interest in manufacturing hot and cold rolled profiles.
Prior to its inauguration, Tembo Steels faced a few challenges, the first one being the need to find strategic land nearest to Kampala. After serious searching, a piece of land available was found at Lugazi in Mukono District.
The axe yesterday fell on Pramukh steel limited located in Njeru Town Council along Kayunga road. Officials from Pramukh declined to talk to New Vision.
According to UNBS quality experts, the steel produced at Pramuk that was imported to Kenya didn’t meet the Kenyan and Uganda quality standards.
Experts have also attributed collapsing buildings in the city to poor and fake steel bars produced in the country.
“All steels should meet the required standard of BS 4449 as well as the high yield strength grade 460 as per the specifications.
There are currently five steel producing plants in Uganda, these include, Modern Steel Uganda, BM Technical services located in Mbarara, Tiang Tang (Africa Steel Corporation) and Pramuk steel Uganda Limited.
Most of the steel firms in Uganda use scrap locally generated from city slums as raw material others import from Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
In order to protect the local steel market, a ban on scrap metal was instituted by government and is being implemented by agencies like Uganda Revenue Authority and the police.
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards has launched a massive crack down on steel factories producing “fake steel†products.
Last week Tembo Steels Limited located in Lugazi was closed after it was discovered that the steels being produced where not commiserate with Uganda National Bureau of Standards.
“We have launched this operation after receiving complaints from the public,†said Moses Ssebunya the UNBS publicist.
The watch dog quality and surveillance officer Tom Lule told New Vision that Tembo steel was closed after their steel was found “wantingâ€.
“The steel they were producing were not meeting our set standards,†said Lule.
Lule who headed the operation that closed Tembo said the operation would continue until standards are met.
However Tembo Steels Limited chief executive Rajesh Nair said his factory was not closed. ‘It was a normal operation check. It is true we had some issues but we have sorted it out and we are open now,†he said.
Tembo Steels Uganda Limited commenced its operations in 2002 and is currently one of East Africa’s largest steel companies with interest in manufacturing hot and cold rolled profiles.
Prior to its inauguration, Tembo Steels faced a few challenges, the first one being the need to find strategic land nearest to Kampala. After serious searching, a piece of land available was found at Lugazi in Mukono District.
The axe yesterday fell on Pramukh steel limited located in Njeru Town Council along Kayunga road. Officials from Pramukh declined to talk to New Vision.
According to UNBS quality experts, the steel produced at Pramuk that was imported to Kenya didn’t meet the Kenyan and Uganda quality standards.
Experts have also attributed collapsing buildings in the city to poor and fake steel bars produced in the country.
“All steels should meet the required standard of BS 4449 as well as the high yield strength grade 460 as per the specifications.
There are currently five steel producing plants in Uganda, these include, Modern Steel Uganda, BM Technical services located in Mbarara, Tiang Tang (Africa Steel Corporation) and Pramuk steel Uganda Limited.
Most of the steel firms in Uganda use scrap locally generated from city slums as raw material others import from Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
In order to protect the local steel market, a ban on scrap metal was instituted by government and is being implemented by agencies like Uganda Revenue Authority and the police.