Members of Parliament have urged government to allow the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to utilise its Non-Tax Revenue collections, to enhance enforcement of product standards, warning that limited funding is undermining its mandate.
The legislators on the Committee of Tourism, Trade and Industry said agencies permitted to retain and use their revenues, such as the National Drugs Authority (NDA), have demonstrated greater efficiency in enforcing standards within their jurisdictions.
“We have had a motion on liquidating UNBS, urging government to allow them use Non-Tax Revenue just like NDA. This is why even when we are drafting budget, when others cannot operate to optimally , NDA is always on ground because they have funds to use while waiting on government funding,” said Workers’ MP, Hon. Abdulhu Byakatonda.
Hon. Richard Gafabusa (NRM, Bwamba County) noted that delays in resolving UNBS financing challenges continue to expose the public to unsafe products on the market.
“We are seeing proliferation of substandard products on the market because UNBS is tied. Their nature of operations should be like that of Police, they should be able to respond to calls all the time,” said Gafabusa.
He added that under funding has led to delays in certification processes, a situation he said tantamount to obtaining money under false pretense.
The concerns were raised during scrutiny of the Ministerial Policy Statement for the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry for the 2026/2027 financial year during a meeting held on Thursday, 02 April 2026, chaired by Hon. Boniface Okot at Parliament.
The committee further raised concerns that the Uganda Revenue Authority is allegedly collecting taxes on uncertified products, a practice they said contributes to the continued presence of substandard goods on the market. Members also faulted both the ministry and UNBS for being irresponsive to public concerns over unsafe products.
UNBS Executive Director, James Kasigwa, called on Parliament to support efforts to have the agency authorised to retain and spend its Non-Tax Revenue, noting that the UNBS Act contains provisions like those in the NDA Act.
“The UNBS Act is a replica of NDA Act in terms of financing - this is an issue within your boat as lawmakers,” said Kasigwa adding that “the poor funding continues to limit our capacity to respond to the demands of the market, yet UNBS is so critical to each citizen’s health, it affects what we all eat”.
Kasigwa added that despite financial constraints, the standards body has maintained strong technical capacity, including well-equipped laboratories within the East African Community and COMESA region.
The Minister of State for Industry, Hon. David Bahati, said the ministry has sought legal guidance from the Attorney General on the matter, noting that the Public Finance Management Act may which requires UNBS to remit all Non-Tax Revenue to the Consolidated Fund may call for amendments in the law.
