The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has signed a $1.5 million (approximately UGX 5.5 billion) Partnership Support Agreement with TradeMark Africa (TMA) to enhance the standardization of agro-industrial products by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Uganda.
This initiative aims to help MSMEs meet regional and international market requirements, thereby improving their competitiveness and access to new opportunities.
The agreement aligns with UNBS’s mandate to strengthen Uganda’s economy by ensuring the quality of locally manufactured products, which enhances the country’s export competitiveness. It also supports TMA’s mission of promoting trade facilitation and regulatory compliance to reduce trade barriers and improve market access.
TradeMark Africa (TMA) is a leading Aid-for-Trade organization founded in 2010, with a mission to expand intra-African trade and increase Africa’s share in global markets. The organization is committed to making trade more inclusive and environmentally sustainable by focusing on key areas such as reducing trade costs and transit times, improving trade infrastructure and policies, and integrating digital innovations into trade processes.
Currently operating in 14 countries across East, Horn, Southern, and West Africa, TMA has contributed significantly to improving border efficiency and reducing trade barriers. By working with policymakers, businesses, and regulatory bodies, TMA has helped create a more business-friendly trade environment that enables enterprises, including MSMEs, to thrive.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere, TMA Country Director, Ms. Anna Nambooze, highlighted the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, which ranks Uganda among the top five most entrepreneurial nations. Additionally, the 2024 State of Entrepreneurship Report indicates that MSMEs dominate Uganda’s business sector, serving as the backbone of the economy.
However, despite the large number of MSMEs, many struggle to scale due to limited support systems and challenges in meeting quality standards. While Uganda has made it easier for businesses to start, there remains a gap in structured support to help these enterprises grow sustainably.
“The government has made it easier to start businesses, but the supportive systems to guide MSMEs through their growth journey remain insufficient. To boost Uganda’s exports, capacity-building for MSMEs is crucial to help them understand and integrate standards into their operations from inception,” Ms. Nambooze said.
UNBS Executive Director, Eng. James Kasigwa, welcomed TMA’s support, emphasizing that it comes at a critical time when UNBS is focusing on growing quality MSMEs by guiding them to meet quality standards. He noted that ensuring MSMEs adhere to proper standards will enable them to access both local and international markets, boosting Uganda’s industrialization efforts.
“Over the next five years, we aim to strengthen MSMEs’ ability to supply both domestic and export markets. This will drive industrialization, import substitution, and export promotion in line with the National Development Plan IV and Uganda’s strategy to grow its economy from $50 billion to $500 billion by 2040. We must be intentional about building Uganda,” Eng. Kasigwa stated.
The 12-month Partner Support Agreement, valued at $1.5 million, will focus on capacity-building initiatives aimed at helping Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) comply with both national and international standards. These interventions will strengthen Uganda’s quality assurance framework, enhance trade efficiency, and improve the competitiveness of agro-industrial products in regional and global markets.
The 12-month, $1.5 million partnership between UNBS and TMA aims to empower Ugandan MSMEs in the agro-industrial sector by building their capacity to meet national and international standards. This initiative involves deploying mobile quality testing at key border communities in Uganda and the DRC, strengthening laboratory infrastructure through accreditation of regional UNBS labs and improvements to national metrology, and equipping the Busia border post with modern testing facilities.
Furthermore, the agreement includes comprehensive training and certification programs for various stakeholders on crucial standards like Global GAP and ECOMARK, alongside nationwide awareness campaigns and training sessions to educate MSMEs on compliance requirements.
Ultimately, this strategic investment seeks to enhance Uganda’s quality assurance framework, improve trade efficiency, boost the competitiveness of agro-industrial products in regional and global markets, and contribute to the country’s long-term economic growth.
Through these targeted interventions, the UNBS-TMA partnership aims to strengthen Uganda’s quality assurance ecosystem and enhance the competitiveness of locally produced agro-industrial products. By improving testing facilities, accreditation, training, and awareness, this initiative will provide MSMEs with the tools they need to thrive in both regional and global markets.