By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Government entities have been directed to procure grains and other grain products only from Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) certified producers and suppliers.
This was revealed by the State Minister of Finance for Investment & Privatisation, Hon. Evelyn Anite, during the launch of guideline no. 13 under section 134 of the PPDA Act, Cap 205, that requires for procurement of grain and grain products from providers satisfied by UNBS.
“If the company is not certified by UNBS, government ministry, department and agency shall not be allowed to procure grain of grain products from that company so as to avoid buying contaminated food,” said Anita.
According to the minister, this is being done to protect citizens from eating products which are contaminated. Additionally, the minister noted that the guidelines shall apply to all government procuring and disposing entities, effective 23rd August, 2204, and January 2025, for primary and secondary schools.
Pointing out incidents where Ugandan grain products have been rejected on the international market due to contamination with afrotoxin, minister Anite expressed concerns to produce safe and quality grain products in order to compet with the products of other producers globally.
“There is need to enforce compliance to drain and grain product standards, to protect humans and animal health and promote cross border trade and International trade for us to fetch more current currency in our country,” she said.
On the other hand, Eng. James Kasigwa, Executive Director of UNBS decried the slow adoption of new technologies by some producers and supply companies resulting into increased supply of substandard grain products on the market. He asked the public to join efforts with UNBS to ensure compliance to standards.
“So we call upon every player in the value chain to work with us and the responsible agencies so that we actually put the quality of our local products higher,” said Eng. Kasigwa.
Deborah Kyarasiime, an official from Uganda Warehouse Receipting Company who was representing the minister of state for trade, Wilson Mbasu Mbadi highlighted some of the challenges affecting the grain industry in Uganda as substandard storage facilities caused by limited infrastructure.
“The latest survey put it to us that not everything we call storage is actually confirming to standards,” said Kyarasiime. ” As the ministry we pledge to continue passing on this message and supporting the would be players because this is our food and we have a God given obligation to ensure that we have the right food.”
