The National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has approved 32 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), whose products will now bear the body’s ‘S’ and ‘Q’ marks for standards and quality respectively.

Acquiring either of the two UNBS’ marks means products from these small-scale manufacturers will have attained the required quality and safety standards for local and regional markets. At least 32 owners of the MSMEs, engaged in food processing, bakery, wine brewing, bottled water and honey packaging, received certificates for their enterprises at the UNBS headquarters.

Amelia Kyambadde, the minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, who presided over the award of certificates to the companies, noted that many SMEs had failed to compete in the market because they produced low-quality products that were poorly packaged, labelled and sometimes unsafe for human consumption.

Government has set particular emphasis on developing and making SMEs competitive as one of the avenues to boost its domestic tax base and create employment opportunities.

Currently, SMEs provide employment to more than 2.5 million people in manufacturing, service, commerce and trade sectors, according to government figures. They account for 90 per cent of the entire private sector.

The latest MSMEs’ certification followed several months of rigorous training of entrepreneurs and testing their products in UNBS labs, after receiving a three million Euros (Shs 11bn) boost from Swedish Development Agency (Sida) and TradeMark Africa.

Working with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), the ministry of trade, industry and cooperatives identified the 32 MSMEs from Sheema, Apac, Lira, Masaka, Yumbe, Mbale, Isingiro, Kamwenge, Bushenyi, Kole, Kabale, Wakiso, Mukono and Kampala, among others.

Another 20 small enterprises are in the final stages of having their products certified, according to UNBS officials. Kyambadde said the MSMEs were not only critical for the country’s economic development but are also fostering innovation and wealth-creation at individual level. She challenged UNBS to increase public awareness because many MSMEs are still grappling with product certification due to the costs and intricate processes involved in the exercise.

After touring their stalls, Kyambadde praised owners of SMEs on general improvements exhibited in packaging, branding and marketing skills.

“Compared to five years ago, there are tremendous improvements. Everybody is observing standards, products are well packaged and the presenters have standards,” the minister observed.

Kyambadde was impressed by Masaka-based Catholic Sisters, under Bannabiikkira Industrial Development Ltd, who are behind Banna Font mineral water.

“I am happy to see religious institutions doing business,” she said.

She further appealed to entrepreneurs to ensure that the ‘Made in Uganda’ tagline is more visible. She, for instance, wondered why someone would choose an Italian name for a wine product made in Uganda.

“It’s better that you come up with appealing choices of names for your products,” she said. She advised SMEs dealing in honey and peanut packaging to consider small containers for consumers in hotels and airplanes.

She disclosed that her ministry has embarked on setting up a directorate of MSMEs, which will be charged with developing and implementing the national MSME policy.

Acting UNBS executive director Patricia Ejalu urged the entrepreneurs whose products achieved the quality market to venture into regional markets. Already, some of the approved SME owners are selling their products, such as packed honey, maize flour and wines in South Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Gideon Badagawa, the executive director of PSFU, urged MSME owners to work with research institutions while developing their products.

Source: The Observer

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