The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has destroyed over 400 metric tonnes of substandard and unsafe products valued at approximately Shs1 billion at the Luweero Industries destruction site in Nakasongola District.
The destroyed items include maize flour, locally brewed liquor, paint, cosmetics, and other food products found unfit for human consumption.
According to Gerald Owori, a standards inspector in the Surveillance Department, the goods were seized during market and import inspections for failing to meet national standards and regulations.
Owori noted that many of the confiscated cosmetics contained prohibited substances such as mercury and hydroquinone, while several food items were improperly labelled or produced in unhygienic conditions.
“Most of the substandard products are cancerous and this is the challenge we are facing. Other products are produced in unhygienic conditions, and this is why we see infections increasing in children and adults,” he said.
He added that other items were found to have failed laboratory tests or had expired before reaching the market.
Owori emphasized that UNBS is committed to enforcing standards to protect consumers.
“People who were found in manufacturing, possession, and distribution of substandard products have been taken up by our legal team. They are going to ensure that they pay the fines depending on the offence, and this will serve as a lesson,” he explained.
UNBS urged the public to buy only certified and approved products, stressing that adherence to standards remains key in safeguarding public health and safety.