Uganda wins key leadership roles at Africa’s Standards Body

Uganda, through the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), has achieved a triple milestone in continental standardization leadership following recent elections by the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) during the 31st ARSO General Assembly held in Zanzibar.

The Assembly, convened under the theme “Accelerating Fair and Just Trade in Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area through an African Coherent Regulatory Framework and Harmonised Standards,” saw Uganda secure key leadership positions within ARSO and gain endorsement for a seat on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Council.

At the 72nd ARSO Council meeting, Uganda’s candidature, represented by UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa, was endorsed as Africa’s nominee for election to the ISO Council under Group 4 for the 2026–2028 term. The endorsement followed a competitive process in which Eng. Kasigwa emerged the winner.

Additionally, Uganda was elected to the ARSO Council, the organization’s top policy-making body, which oversees implementation of ARSO activities and reports to the General Assembly. Eng. Kasigwa will represent Uganda on the Council for the three-year term from July 2025 to June 2028.

Uganda also secured a seat on ARSO’s Standards Management Committee (SMC), which is responsible for guiding the procedures and processes for the harmonization of African standards. Mr. Joel Peter Oryang, Head of Regional and International Liaison at UNBS, will serve on the committee for the same three-year period.

These developments highlight the confidence that ARSO member states have placed in Uganda’s technical and policy leadership in standardization, both at the continental and global levels.

In his remarks, Eng. Kasigwa thanked ARSO members for their trust and appealed for continued support ahead of the ISO Council elections scheduled for October 2025 during the ISO Annual Meeting in Kigali.

“Our key priority areas at the ISO Council will include diversity, digital transformation, and deeper engagement with policymakers,” said Eng. Kasigwa. “We must amplify Africa’s voice at the international level and adopt a unified African position on key policy decisions.”

Uganda’s endorsement for the ISO Council, coupled with its election to both the ARSO Council and SMC, positions the country to influence standardization policies and practices that align with national and continental development priorities. These roles will also help advance fair and just trade across Uganda, the East African Community, and the broader African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while expanding access to international markets.

Currently, Uganda is vying for the sole ISO Council seat under Group 4, competing with Costa Rica.

The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) is the continental standardization body established in 1977 by the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Its mission is to harmonize standards, facilitate intra-African trade, and improve the global competitiveness of African goods and services.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a global network of 173 national standards bodies. Established in 1946 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ISO has developed over 25,000 international standards across nearly every sector. Through its Vision 2030, ISO aims to make life easier, safer, and better by supporting global trade, enhancing product quality, and building trust in systems and services.