Uganda and Kenya have signed a bilateral agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in quality standards, with the goal of enhancing trade, industrial development, and consumer protection across both countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on July 30, 2025, in Nairobi, brings together the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) in a strategic partnership to advance standardization, conformity assessment, metrology, and training.
Eng. James Kasigwa, Executive Director of UNBS, signed on behalf of Uganda, while Esther Ngari, Managing Director of KEBS, represented Kenya. The signing was witnessed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and President William Ruto, underscoring the high-level political support for the agreement.
The deal provides a framework for scientific and technical cooperation between the two national standards bodies. It commits both parties to align their national standards with international benchmarks and to support each other in standardization efforts at both national and global levels.
The agreement will facilitate the exchange of vital information and documents related to standards formulation, certification activities, product testing, and the issuance and renewal of quality marks. This cooperation is expected to reduce technical barriers to trade and ease market access for goods produced in either country.
Under the agreement, Uganda and Kenya will harmonize inspection protocols and risk assessment procedures, enabling mutual recognition of each other’s quality marks based on East African Community (EAC) and national standards.
Both parties also committed to developing laboratory capacity based on international criteria to allow for mutual recognition of test reports. The exchange of information on laboratory operations and the joint development of inspection systems is a key component of the MoU.
Additionally, the agreement outlines plans for joint metrology research and reciprocal training programs to build the technical skills of personnel in standardization, conformity assessment, and metrology.
The MoU is expected to not only improve the quality and safety of goods traded between Uganda and Kenya but also strengthen regional economic integration under the EAC framework.