KAMPALA – Trade Minister Sanjay Tanna has directed the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to reduce product certification time for Small and Medium Enterprises to a maximum of two weeks, as the government moves to streamline operations and boost economic growth.
The directive came during a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Trade premises in Kampala, where Minister Tanna, alongside Minister of State for Trade Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbaidi, met with members of the 10th National Standards Council.
“I task the National Standards Council to refocus and put more emphasis on supporting the growing enterprises especially the Small and Medium Enterprises, by reducing the time that they take to acquire the Quality Mark, preferably a maximum of two weeks. That way Ugandans will feel the impact of the standards body,” Tanna said.
The minister expressed concern over numerous complaints from both SMEs and large manufacturers regarding delays in product certification and import clearance at border points.
UNBS, he emphasized, is a critical anchor in achieving Uganda’s ambitious goal of expanding the economy from approximately $50 billion to $500 billion by 2040, urging the bureau to change its operational approach and “do the right things and be practical.”
During the meeting, National Standards Council Chairperson Eng. James Kalibbala reported significant progress in the bureau’s performance over the past year, including clearing a certification backlog inherited from previous leadership. The number of certified enterprises has increased from 501 to 1,270, while staffing levels have improved.
The bureau’s budget rose from Shs62 billion to Shs130 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, facilitating the development of 551 new standards and the recruitment of 100 additional staff.
However, UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa highlighted persistent challenges, including staffing and funding gaps that limit operations to only 34 of Uganda’s over 200 official and informal border points.
Minister Mbaidi underscored the importance of efficiency, noting that while the government has secured markets for Ugandan products, many exporters have failed to access these markets due to non-compliance with international standards. He cautioned UNBS against policing SMEs on certification, urging instead a focus on teaching, advising, and guiding businesses.
Minister Tanna pledged full support to UNBS in fulfilling its mandate of ensuring product safety, supporting industrialization, and facilitating trade.
The meeting is part of ongoing initiatives by Minister Tanna to improve efficiency across all government agencies under his ministry.
