The government has pledged urgent reforms at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) after entrepreneurs decried certification delays lasting more than a year, which they say are crippling businesses.
At a public interface convened by the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU) in Kampala on Tuesday, Col. Edith Nakalema, the Head of SHIPU, and Lynette Bagonza, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, met with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) owners to discuss the persistent challenges.
Col. Nakalema revealed that President Yoweri Museveni had directed SHIPU to protect investors from unnecessary bureaucratic frustrations. She said complaints about delays—some stretching beyond 400 days—were now under serious review.
“The President has received so many complaints that government ministries and agencies are delaying investors,” she said. “We are under instructions to hand-hold domestic entrepreneurs because they are the primary drivers of our economy. But because of UNBS, some of you have been stuck for over a year. This must change.”
She cautioned that officers who frustrate investment risk losing their jobs. “We need officers who add value in their places of work,” she warned, before apologizing to entrepreneurs on behalf of government.
Bagonza echoed the apology and promised reforms at UNBS, which is supervised by her ministry. “As our chief clients, we should be supporting you to succeed, not frustrating you,” she said. “We cannot achieve President Museveni’s 10-fold economy growth strategy if we hinder you. I assure you there will be a turnaround.”
UNBS leaders, including Eng. James Kalibbala, Chairperson of the National Standards Council, and Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa, admitted shortcomings but pledged change. Eng. Kasigwa said the bureau had adopted a new strategic plan running until 2030. “Your comments call for action and we commit not to only do better but excellently,” he said.
Entrepreneurs, however, shared frustration over exorbitant fees, repeated requirements, and the slow pace of certification. Businessman Gaster Lule Ntake said: “When I start an industry, my products can’t go to consumers without your stamp. Yet you delay giving us that stamp. Are you promoting investment or not?”
Public health specialist Dr. Anna Nakanwagi Mukwaya added that certification bottlenecks were even affecting access to medicines. “If you delay certification, the product will not be on the market and this kills business. The process should be expedited,” she urged.
Other entrepreneurs, including Karizha Rukuuka from Tororo, reported certification delays exceeding 400 days. “This has really affected us because nobody wants to do business with us without certification,” he said.
The forum was also attended by officials from the Uganda Manufacturers Association and Makerere University, who called for accountability systems and improved supervision of UNBS.
Col. Nakalema assured investors that government would not relent. “We cannot continue like this. We are going to uproot wrong elements from the system,” she said.
