The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has signed a $1.5 million (UGX 5.5 billion) agreement with TradeMark Africa (TMA) to enhance the standardization of agro-industrial products by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The initiative aims to help Ugandan products meet global market requirements, improving export competitiveness.
The funding will strengthen UNBS’s capacity to support MSMEs in meeting international quality standards, a key step in Uganda’s economic development strategy.
The initiative aligns with the country’s National Development Plan IV and the broader vision of expanding Uganda’s economy from $50 billion to $500 billion by 2040.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere, TMA Country Director Anna Nambooze highlighted the need for structural support to help Uganda’s MSMEs grow beyond the startup phase.
“The government has made it easier to start businesses, but supportive systems to guide MSMEs through their growth journey remain insufficient,” Nambooze noted.
“Capacity building is critical to ensuring businesses integrate quality standards from the start, boosting Uganda’s export potential.”
UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa welcomed the partnership, emphasizing that it will strengthen the ability of MSMEs to access both domestic and international markets.
“In the next five years, we are committed to growing MSMEs and enabling them to meet global standards,” Kasigwa said.
“This will drive industrialization, import substitution, and export promotion, ensuring Uganda’s economic transformation.”
Key Areas of Support
The 12-month partnership will fund several initiatives, including:
- Mobile Quality Assurance Testing Equipment for border communities in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
- Accreditation Services to expand the capabilities of UNBS’s regional laboratories in Gulu, Mbale, and Mbarara, and improve the National Metrology Laboratories.
- Equipment for a Border Post Laboratory in Busia to enhance compliance with safety and quality requirements.
- Training on International Certification Standards such as Global GAP, ECOMARK, and food safety regulations.
- Awareness campaigns for MSMEs on certification and standardization processes.
The partnership is supported by international donors, including the Danish Government through DANIDA, the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the European Union’s Uganda-DRC Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Project.
UNBS, as Uganda’s standardization authority, plays a key role in protecting public health, promoting fair trade, and ensuring that local products meet both national and international standards. Meanwhile, TMA, a leading aid-for-trade organization, continues to enhance trade efficiency across Africa by reducing barriers, improving infrastructure, and promoting inclusive trade practices.
Looking Ahead
With this funding, Uganda’s MSMEs are expected to gain greater access to international markets, reinforcing the country’s position as a key player in the regional and global agro-industrial sector.
