Parliament has unanimously called for increased funding to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) following widespread complaints about delayed certification processes and lax enforcement of product standards.
During a plenary session chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, legislators expressed frustration over the agency’s inefficiency, citing its year-long turnaround time for product certification, a stark contrast to Kenya’s one-month process.
Hon. Naboth Namanya (FDC, Rubabo County) decried the long delays in certification, noting that it hampers businesses and opens the floodgates for counterfeit products.
“UNBS faces financial and manpower challenges, taking up to 12 months to certify a product. This inefficiency not only frustrates local businesses but also compromises product standards in the market,” Namanya said.
Namanya pointed out that despite generating significant revenue—collecting approximately Shs80 billion annuallythe agency operates on a budget of just Shs40 billion, leaving it under-resourced.
Kole North County MP, Hon. Samuel Opio, highlighted the adverse effects of delays in license renewals, which take up to three months, forcing businesses to halt production and exports.
“They require you to pull products off the shelf until renewal is complete, disrupting business operations and exports. This inefficiency needs urgent resolution,” Opio said.
Several MPs linked the agency’s inefficiency to the proliferation of counterfeit products. Busia Municipality MP, Hon. Geoffrey Macho, raised alarm over unregulated liquors that are alleged to cause health complications, including impotence, which he said contribute to domestic issues such as gender-based violence.
“The limited capacity of UNBS to inspect products allows harmful goods into the market, risking public health and social stability,” Macho asserted.
Chairperson of the Finance Committee, Hon. Amos Kankunda, attributed UNBS’s struggles to inadequate funding mechanisms.
“Funds collected from applicants go to the Consolidated Fund, leaving UNBS underfunded and understaffed. With the current structure, they cannot meet the demands of enforcement and certification,” Kankunda explained.
The Minister of State for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives (Industry), Hon. David Bahati, acknowledged the agency’s challenges and pledged to provide a detailed report on its certification timelines.
“We are aware of the high demand for UNBS services, driven by the growth of the industrial sector, which now includes 9,400 registered factories contributing 27.4% to GDP. We’ll work to support UNBS in recruiting more manpower,” Bahati said.
Speaker Anita Among directed the Committee on Tourism and Trade to conduct an in-depth assessment of UNBS, particularly its budgetary constraints, and incorporate recommendations into the 2025 Budget Framework Paper.
“We cannot allow inefficiencies to persist in such a critical agency. Parliament will support measures to empower UNBS to safeguard public health and support businesses,” Among affirmed.
The directive aims to address the agency’s shortcomings, ensuring UNBS fulfills its mandate to enforce standards and protect consumers while fostering a conducive environment for business growth.
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