UNBS SEEKS 200BILLION BUDGET ALLOCATION TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY

Felix Oketcho

Uganda Bureau of Standards seeks budget allocation of sh 200billion from government to enhance service delivery in abid to realise ten fold growth strategy of $500billion by 2040.

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) operates on an annual budget of approximately Shs 56 billion, which leadership states is only one-third of the roughly Shs 200 billion needed to function effectively. The funds are primarily allocated toward standards development, quality certification, market surveillance, and laboratory testing to curb counterfeit products. 

Deputy Executive Director Ejalu says the current budget allocation is inadequate to boost unbs operations 

"We require abudget allocation of sh 200billion to enable us expand our servicss and recruit more workforce of 1200 staff however we only have 620 and our annual budget is not enough to roll out supervision and monitoring of the market,"

According to Patricia Ejalu funding requirement of 200 billion will enable unbs meet operational needs like 

Standards and Measurements,enforcement: Core funding for lab testing, metrology, and surveillance,Agro-Industrialization: Support for agricultural market access and certification.

Staff and Operations Including professionalizing the workforce and strengthening ICT.

Current Key Constraints: Underfunding has resulted in fewer laboratory facilities and limited staff for nationwide inspection,

Certification Services, Issuance of permits for products and firms to meet standards,Market Surveillance,Inspection of products to reduce counterfeit goods,Metrology,verification equipment used in trade, such as fuel dispensers, scales, and meters. 

UNBS has warned that this funding gap limits its capability to fully protect consumers against substandard products. 

Improving Public unbs in partnership with Trade Mark Africa recently launched media awareness campaign to train media on standards to bridge the gap between technical standards regulations and public understanding, ensuring citizens are better informed about product quality and consumer rights.

According to officials this will enhance Export Competitiveness: 

The program focuses on educating media on standards compliance to help Ugandan products, particularly from MSMEs, access regional and international markets.

Strengthening Local Reporting: By establishing dedicated standards and metrology reporting desks, the initiative fosters accurate, evidence-based reporting on UNBS activities, such as product certification (The Q-Mark) and market surveillance.

Combating Substandard Goods: The training equips journalists to better identify and report on unsafe or substandard products, protecting the public from health and safety .

The initiative, featuring sessions in districts like Mukono and Mbale, and later in Jinja, Gulu, and Mbarara, seeks to make the media active partners in promoting a culture of quality in Uganda.