The world is celebrating World Standards Day today, under the theme: Shared Vision for a better world, and as such, UNBS has awarded certificates of recognition to twenty six (26) companies that implement ISO systems standards and are certified against ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems and Integrated Management Systems. The recognition is aimed at appreciating their efforts in using international standards to enhance competitiveness of Ugandan products and services in national,regional and international markets.
During the event held at the UNBS head office in Bweyogerere, the UNBS Executive Director, Eng. James N. Kasigwa emphasised the importance of standards in growing Uganda’s economy, and encouraged all Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to embrace standardisation of their products, systems and services.
“Standards help businesses ensure that their products and services conform to safety and quality requirements, are competitive globally, improve market access, technology transfer , innovation, efficiency, effectiveness and customer satisfaction.” He said.
A study conducted by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in july 2023 indicate that standardisation contributes 23.7% of Uganda’s GDP and economic growth annually.
Eng. Kasigwa also revealed that as the country transitions from National Development Plan (NDP) III to NDP IV, UNBS is also concluding its five-year strategic plan and is taking on a new value proposition aimed at growing quality MSMEs.
“Our new value proposition of growing quality MSMEs means that UNBS will handhold MSMEs to meet standards, increase productivity and employment opportunities for the social economic development of the country to drive export promotion, import substitution and industrialisation. We have a division responsible for supporting MSMEs to meet standards and certification because the more we grow quality MSMEs, the more the economy grows.” Eng. Kasigwa said. It should be noted the UNBS has grown MSMEs by over 1,200 over the years.
Companies recognized today consist of government agencies, manufacturers and the services industry such as ICT, Education, Private security and Charter flight services. (See full list in Annex).
UNBS is accredited and internationally recognised to offer ISO 9001 Quality management system and ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems certification. Certificates issued by UNBS are internationally recognised and traceable to the global database of accredited certifications: IAF CertSearch https://www.iafcertsearch.org/, that allows users to verify the validity and authenticity of their certificates.
ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 global standards enhance quality and food safety management for organizations to improve performance and meet customer expectations, while enabling public sector transform bureaucratic processes into efficient, customer-focused systems that deliver improved products and services to citizens. An Integrated Management System (IMS) combines multiple management processes, such as quality, environment, and health and safety standards, to streamline processes, reduce cost of duplication, thus enhancing efficiency and organizational performance.
Certification to international standards with UNBS promotes imports substitution, market access and increased competitiveness of our goods and services. It also serves as a prequalification tool in the supply of goods and services to the growing oil and gas business sector and government procurements, in Uganda.
Working with UNBS for ISO certification also reduces the cost of doing business for companies in Uganda because the ISO standards and certification can be acquired at 10% discount as compared to directly purchasing them at ISO.
In a recent development, government urged all companies providing grain and grain products to be certified by UNBS, if they are to supply Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.( PPDA Guideline No 13 of 2024 on Procurement of Grain and Grain Products for all Government agencies)
