Amelia Kyambadde calls on UNBS to decentralise services
The minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde on Tuesday called upon Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to exert their presence in all the four regions of the country.
Kyambadde made the call during celebrations to mark UNBS 30 years of existence, at UNBS Head offices, in Bweyogerere division, in Wakiso on Tuesday.
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She said decentralising UNBS will help to alleviate challenges of delayed services, to members of the private sector, who find it difficult to access UNBS Head office, due to long distances and other logistical factors.
“We have cause to celebrate UNBS 30 years of existence, only if we increase consumer protection across the country”, she said.
She said UNBS should endeavour to put in place two staff members at all border points, to ensure substandard goods are not smuggled into Ugandan market.
She cautioned UNBS of fraudulent manufacturing industries proprietors, who present genuine samples to UNBS for testing and thereafter, manufacture and release into market substandard products.
“In addition, you should promote Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) Government program, by encouraging and promoting Ugandan entrepreneurs and manufacturers”, she added.
She encouraged UNBS to support the Private Sector take part in certification of consumer products to supplement on their workload, citing India as one of the countries, where the Private Sector plays a great role in certification, testing and inspection of consumer products.
Dr Ben Mnyindo, UNBS executive director said: “UNBS shall continue to engage partners and stakeholders to reduce substandard products on market, in addition to venturing into the Oil and Gas Sector, to claim our space”.
He said UNBS will be able to put in place testing laboratories in all the four regions of Uganda, in two years’ time.
Masitula Munyaami Male, the chairperson of the National Standards Council, said blood donation by the local community, to save lives are among activities, sponsored by UNBS to mark 30 years of existence.
“We shall in addition conduct a run during this Holly month of Ramadhan, to mark the 30 years of UNBS existence”, she said. The celebrations were conducted under the theme: “30 years of promoting Standards, Trade and Consumer Protection”
