KAMPALA — The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have launched a UGX 5.5 billion (USD 1.5 million) initiative to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in meeting global market requirements, officials said Monday.
The agreement, aimed at enhancing the standardization of agro-industrial products manufactured by MSMEs, was formalized at a signing ceremony at the UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere.
“This initiative aims to provide crucial support to MSMEs, which are a vital component of Uganda’s economy,” said Anna Nambooze, TMA Country Director. “We need to ensure businesses can meet international standards to facilitate growth.”
James Kasigwa, Executive Director of UNBS, explained that the partnership aligns with the bureau’s strategic focus on empowering MSMEs. “This investment will provide the necessary resources to ensure Ugandan products achieve global quality recognition, contributing to national development objectives,” he said.
The UGX 5.5 billion will be allocated to:
- The procurement and installation of mobile quality assurance testing equipment for border regions.
- Support for UNBS regional laboratories to achieve international accreditation.
- Equipping the Busia border post laboratory for efficient testing and compliance.
- Provision of training on international standards and certification processes.
- Education of MSMEs on the importance of standards and certification.
Funding for the initiative is provided by partners including the Danish Government (DANIDA), the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the European Union.
The UNBS is a government agency mandated to develop and enforce standards to protect public health, safety, and the environment, ensure fair trade, and enhance the competitiveness of Ugandan products. TradeMark Africa is an African Aid-for-Trade organisation focused on growing intra-African trade and increasing Africa’s share in global trade.
