A three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening standards implementation, product certification, and support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has commenced in Mbale, with District Commercial Officers (DCOs) from the Eastern Region undergoing training. The workshop, being held at Mbale Resort Hotel, is organised by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) as part of efforts to improve access to standards services and enhance compliance among enterprises operating across Uganda.
The training is designed to equip District Commercial Officers with skills to guide MSMEs on certification requirements, quality assurance processes, and compliance with Compulsory Uganda Standards (CUS). UNBS says the initiative is intended to bring standards services closer to businesses, many of which operate in areas far from the bureau’s regional offices.
The programme also seeks to strengthen collaboration between UNBS and local governments ahead of a proposed nationwide registration exercise for MSMEs. The exercise is expected to support the creation of a comprehensive database to inform policy planning and enterprise development interventions. District Commercial Officers are expected to play a central role in supporting enterprise development, agricultural production, industrialisation, and commercialisation at the local government level.
Speaking during the training, Abubaker Bakulumpagi, Principal Certification Officer and Head of the MSME Division at UNBS, said the initiative addresses long-standing challenges faced by businesses in accessing certification services. He noted that many MSMEs are located in districts far from UNBS offices, which are mainly based in urban centres such as Kampala, Mbale, Gulu, and Mbarara.
Bakulumpagi added that empowering DCOs will create a network of frontline support officers to guide enterprises on standards compliance and certification. He further explained that the training will support the development of a national MSME database to improve planning and coordination among government agencies. UNBS says the workshop is expected to improve awareness of standards requirements, strengthen support systems for MSMEs, and enhance the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured goods in both domestic and international markets.
The bureau believes closer collaboration with local government structures will expand access to certification services and improve overall compliance with quality standards. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards is a statutory body under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives mandated to develop, promote, and enforce standards to protect public health, safety, the environment, and consumers while promoting fair trade and competitiveness.
Mbale District Commercial Officer, Iren Buteme, and other participants welcomed the training, saying it will enhance their ability to promote and maintain quality standards in products supplied to markets within their areas of jurisdiction-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
