Mbale, Uganda: The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has stepped up its efforts to ensure quality and food safety in Uganda’s grain milling sector, engaging Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from the Bugisu sub-region on the importance of standards and certification.
During a meeting held Tuesday, July 15, at Mbale Resort Hotel in Mbale City, UNBS trained grain milling SMEs on the certification procedures, applicable standards, and processes required to formalize and improve their products.
Ms Sylvia Kirabo, the UNBS spokesperson, revealed that the bureau is placing renewed emphasis on ensuring that milled grain products meet food safety standards and are safe for human consumption.
“We are urging SMEs in the grain milling sector to prioritize food safety. Certification is not just about compliance; it is about protecting Ugandans and promoting trust in locally made products,” Ms Kirabo said.
She added that the presidential initiative on value addition aligns with UNBS’s commitment to supporting SMEs with the skills and knowledge necessary for certification and improved quality control.
Justine Mukazungu, Director of Stina Foods Limited, a company specializing in composite flour for both children and adults, welcomed the engagement and commended UNBS for simplifying access to certification through the establishment of regional offices.
“As SMEs, this support from UNBS makes it easier for us to formalize and improve the quality of our products,” Mukazungu said.
UNBS’s engagement comes amid increasing calls for Ugandan SMEs to embrace standards as a pathway to accessing larger markets, including those under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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