KAMPALA: The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has impounded thousands of litres of paint suspected to be counterfeit after raiding an illegal manufacturing site atop Naiga Plaza along Ben Kiwanuka Street in Kampala.
The operation, prompted by a whistleblower tip, uncovered men and women mixing chemicals and packaging containers labeled with the logos of reputable paint brands, including Pascon, Dura Coat, and Sadolin, all certified by UNBS.
According to Sylvia Kirabo, UNBS Head of Marketing and Public Relations, the operators lacked the technical expertise required to produce paint safely. “UNBS sets strict standards for safety, composition, and quality. The suspects ignored all of these regulations,” she said.
The investigation followed numerous complaints nationwide from consumers who reported substandard paint. Tracing the distribution channels led inspectors to the rooftop facility, where raw materials containing lead, a toxic heavy metal, were improperly handled. Kirabo warned that exposure to such substances poses serious health and environmental risks, noting that UNBS regulates permissible lead levels in paint to safeguard consumers.
The suspects were also found using fake Digital Conformity Mark (DCM) stickers, a traceability system introduced by UNBS to verify the authenticity of certified products.
“They were deliberately misrepresenting their products as legitimate, putting lives at risk,” Kirabo said, adding that the suspects will be arraigned before the Standards and Utilities Court on charges of counterfeiting, use of false certification marks, and violation of standards regulations.
UNBS, however, stressed that enforcement is not only about prosecution. “Sometimes these individuals engage in such illegal activities out of ignorance rather than malice,” Kirabo said. “After the legal process, we intend to guide and train them on how to operate within the law.”
The bureau urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious products, emphasizing that combating counterfeits requires collaboration between regulators, manufacturers, and consumers.