Uganda has begun plans to review outdated standards laws as the country seeks to align its regulatory framework with international standards and improve the quality of locally manufactured goods.
The move was announced on Tuesday as Uganda joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Metrology Day under the theme, “Building Trust in Policy Making”.
Speaking during the commemoration, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Lynette Bagonza, said many of Uganda’s existing laws no longer match international standards despite the country’s growing export sector.
Bagonza said the government wants to amend the laws to strengthen quality assurance and protect consumers from substandard products.
“We want to review our laws and introduce clauses that can help people consume quality goods, especially in areas of health such as medicines, housing, construction materials, food products, and others,” she said.
She added that improving standards would also help Ugandan products compete more effectively in regional and international markets.
The executive director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), James N. Kasigwa, said metrology, the science of measurement, plays a critical role in ensuring fairness in trade and service delivery.
Kasigwa said measurements affect everyday activities in sectors such as agriculture, industry, trade, and health.
“Without proper measurements, there would be no fairness and development,” he said.
He explained that accurate measurements are necessary in areas such as fertilizers, pesticides, packaged goods and industrial services, noting that consumers and traders both benefit from reliable standards.
Kasigwa also said proper measurement systems can help reduce corruption in both the public and private sectors by ensuring accountability and transparency.
He revealed that UNBS operates laboratories that test products and equipment to confirm whether they meet the required standards before they are approved for use.
Kasigwa urged health facilities and manufacturing companies to work closely with UNBS by submitting their testing and measuring equipment for verification.
He said the verification process helps determine whether machines meet approved standards and are safe for public use.
Some of the equipment that requires regular inspection includes speed governors, weighing scales, and other machines used in public service delivery.
World Metrology Day is observed annually to raise awareness about the importance of measurement science in trade, health, industry, and technological development.
