Gulu, Uganda
In a significant move to bolster economic growth and support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Gen. Wilson Mbadi, the Minister of State for Trade, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the decentralisation of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) services. This initiative aims to reduce the cost of doing business and to help achieve government’s ambitious target of increasing the national economy from $49.5 billion in FY 2023/2024 to $500 billion within the next 15 years.
During his maiden visit to the UNBS northern region office in Gulu and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Elegu, Gen. Mbadi highlighted the importance of enhancing UNBS’s regional presence. He emphasised the need for improved service delivery and greater support for MSMEs, which constitute over 90% of enterprises in Uganda.
UNBS executive director Eng. James Kasigwa pointed out the challenges faced due to limited financial and human resource. Kasigwa called for increased funding and staffing to enable UNBS support government priorities better, including export promotion, import substitution and industrial growth.
In response, Gen. Mbadi praised UNBS for its effective use of limited resources and committed to increasing support for the organisation. He also stressed the importance of expanding UNBS services across all ten Agro-ecological zones and planned industrial parks in Uganda.
The UNBS northern region office, which serves business communities in West Nile, Lango, Acholi, Karamoja and Masindi, provides critical certification, testing and market surveillance services. However, some essential services, such as calibration and legal metrology are still not available at regional offices.
The decentralisation agenda is designed to enhance efficiency by allowing MSMEs in various regions to access certification and testing services locally, thus reducing the need for travel to the UNBS head office in Kampala. This initiative also aims to support the growth and compliance of enterprises, boost local product competitiveness and align with national development goals, including the Parish Development Model and the National Development Plan IV.
Gen. Mbadi and Eng. Kasigwa also visited UNBS offices at Elegu OSBP, where the bureau conducts inspections to prevent entry of substandard products. UNBS remains dedicated to its mandate of consumer protection, fair trade and enhancing the competitiveness of Ugandan products both domestically and internationally.
Joselyn Nakitto is a staff writer at SML News Ug with passion in health, business, and current affairs. She can be contacted on 0709603158
