The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in meeting national and East African quality standards, enabling them to compete more effectively both locally and across the East African Community (EAC).
Speaking on Spotlight Uganda aired on Sanyuka Television, Gaston Kironde, Principal Inspector–Imports at UNBS, emphasized efforts to simplify compliance for local businesses, including providing guidance in local languages to ensure SMEs understand certification requirements.
Kironde highlighted that UNBS certification, including the Q-mark, is designed to be straightforward, focusing on product ingredients, sanitation, and compliance, while also unlocking regional market opportunities in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
He stressed that certification works in coordination with other agencies like URSB for brand registration and outlined requirements such as registered product names, proper production equipment, hygiene standards, and worker health checks for food-related enterprises.
SMEs were encouraged to embrace standardization as a tool for consumer trust, competitiveness, and access to wider markets.
