In an effort to encourage local businesses to produce good quality products, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has announced the 2017 Quality Awards.
The awards to be held on November 30, 2017 will recognise local companies whose products have consistently met standards both at national and international level.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the Awards, the UNBS Executive Director Dr. Ben Manyindo, said: “The Quality Awards will recognise local businesses that have demonstrated compliance to our rigorous certification scheme.”
The Quality Awards come at time the when the country is promoting locally-manufactured products under the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) campaign, through which the UNBS is supporting SMEs to ensure that they meet the required standards.
Last financial year, UNBS scaled up its certification activities by issuing 899 certification permits mainly to support SMEs to gain access to regional and international markets.
“Standards are important in ensuring that local products remain competitive both in the local and international markets. Quality products are not only important in ensuring that the customer gets value for money but they also promote both local and international trade thereby contributing to economic growth,” Dr. Manyindo said.
This year, the awards categories will include: The Overall Winner, 1st Runner up, Winner from the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) and Winner of the Services Award.
The companies identified through the Product Quality Certification Scheme are required to have quality goods in terms of customer safety and also capability of accessing the lucrative regional and international markets.
To attain certification companies have to apply to UNBS and the agency’s quality auditors visit the factory for auditing based on standards applicable to the product. During auditing, samples of the products will be taken for testing in UNBS laboratories. Companies whose products conform to the required quality are awarded the UNBS Quality Mark.
