Local steel, cement industries hit international standards

Most Steel and Cement factories in Uganda have complied with the required international standards, Ben Manyindo, the executive director of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has said.

Speaking at the launch of the 13th UNBS Quality Gala, Manyindo said the endorsement will reduce the importation of the steel and cement from outside Uganda.

Of recent the construction industry has been bombarded with substandard goods which are available in  big hardware shops that import cheap products including steel bars, cement among others.

"At least we are sure of the cement and steel standards that local companies are currently putting on the market," Manyindo said.

Manyindo said the only task these companies have is to increase on their output to meet both government and local demand of their products.

According to the 2014 UNBS annual report, Uganda manufactures 2.2 million tons of cement, annually.

Currently UNBS' focus has been put on the standards of textile and the furniture industry of which a number of gaps including lack of up-to-date technology and lack of skilled labor.

"These companies are going to be supplying government which buys in bulk therefore quantity is required," Manyindo said.

This year’s theme is "Promoting locally made products and supporting their growth" as it is with the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy.