Manufacturers seek overhaul of UNBS Act to curb delays, counterfeit goods

Fresh calls have emerged for Parliament to overhaul the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Act, with manufacturers and former legislators arguing that governance weaknesses, lengthy certification processes and poor enforcement have undermined the bureau’s ability to protect consumers and support local industry.

Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on Wednesday, former Bwamba County MP Richard Gafabusa said the current legal framework no longer clearly defines the governance and operational responsibilities of the bureau, creating institutional conflicts that have weakened standards enforcement.

“The dysfunctional state of affairs at UNBS has resulted in the proliferation of poor quality and counterfeit goods, eroded investor confidence and frustrated industrialisation and the efficient enforcement of standards laws and regulations,” Gafabusa told the committee chaired by Dokolo South MP Boniface Okot.

Gafabusa, who said he had raised similar concerns during the 11th Parliament, argued that overlapping responsibilities between the National Standards Council and the bureau’s management have led to delayed decision-making and weakened accountability.

He also faulted what he described as lengthy product certification timelines, saying manufacturers, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are being locked out of markets by prolonged approval processes.

“It is not a guarantee that if a manufacturer follows up their application after eight months or one year, that one inspection will lead to certification. The process can take over three years and this has made many SMEs give up or put their goods on the market without certification,” he said.

To improve standards enforcement, Gafabusa proposed strengthening the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards (PVoC) programme through electronic certification systems, artificial intelligence and closer collaboration between UNBS, the Uganda Revenue Authority and border agencies.

He also questioned the bureau’s reliance on outsourced verification services, claiming some foreign firms contracted to conduct inspections lack credibility.

“Because of inadequate personnel at UNBS, they decided to outsource this verification and signed contracts with companies to do it on their behalf. In countries like India, Japan and China, some of these are briefcase companies and do not exist,” he said.

Gafabusa further urged government to expand regional laboratory capacity and decentralise testing, inspection and certification services to reduce turnaround times.

The Uganda Small Scale Industries Association also used the committee hearing to highlight the financial burden faced by local manufacturers.

Its chairperson, Peter Kasirye, said some manufacturers are required to pay separate certification fees for similar products produced on the same production line, increasing production costs and discouraging investment.

“We have compliant manufacturers watching uncertified competitors undercut them on the same shelf because the cost of doing things the right way is not yet matched by consistent enforcement against those who are not properly certified,” Kasirye said.

He also called for greater transparency in certification charges and wider access to standards documents in local languages to improve compliance.

Kasirye further urged government to harmonise Uganda’s standards with those of other East African Community partner states to improve the competitiveness of locally manufactured products in regional markets.

“We further ask that government considers harmonising our standards with our regional neighbours, so that our manufacturers are not disadvantaged in the very markets we hope to conquer together as the East African Community,” he said.

Committee chairperson Boniface Okot asked manufacturers to submit proposals on affordable certification fees that could enable SMEs to comply with standards without stifling business growth.

“You indicated that these services are still costly. What proposals do you have for an amount that, when charged to SMEs, they will be able to thrive? We shall present these proposals when we interact with UNBS,” Okot said.

Pader District Woman MP CD Lowila said addressing staffing shortages at UNBS could significantly improve the turnaround time for processing certification applications.

Nakaseke North MP Wilber Manyisa called on the bureau to ensure fairness in handling certification requests from local manufacturers and foreign investors, saying both should receive equal treatment under the standards regime.