The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has attributed most cases of underweight cement on the Ugandan market to illegal tampering and repackaging after the products leave manufacturing plants, rather than faults by certified cement manufacturers.
The clarification follows public concern sparked by viral social media videos in which consumers alleged that some cement bags labelled 50 kilogrammes weighed significantly less, with some reportedly measuring about 42 kilogrammes.
Speaking during the 7th Heads of Government Agencies (HOGA) meeting held at the UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere Industrial Area, UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa said the bureau has engaged cement manufacturers across the country to ensure strict compliance with weight and safety standards.
“We have engaged certified cement manufacturers nationwide to ensure strict adherence to relevant weight and safety standards requirements,” Kasigwa said.
He said findings from UNBS market surveillance indicate that many cases of underweight cement occur during transportation and at retail outlets, where unscrupulous individuals allegedly tamper with, siphon or repackage cement before it reaches consumers.
“Recent UNBS market surveillance reports indicate that instances of underweight cement often stem from unauthorized tampering, siphoning or repackaging during transit and retail,” he said.
Kasigwa called for joint efforts among regulators, security agencies, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers to eliminate illegal practices within the supply chain.
“Eliminating these illicit practices requires a coordinated effort from all stakeholders—regulators, security agencies and consumers. Every player across the value chain should demand and deliver quality products,” he added.
He reaffirmed UNBS’s commitment to protecting consumers through enforcement of national standards, promoting product quality, safety and fair trade.
“As the custodian of national standards, UNBS remains committed to promoting and enforcing compliance with standards to guarantee product quality, consumer safety and fair trade,” Kasigwa said.
The HOGA meeting brought together accounting officers and chief executives from government ministries, departments and agencies to discuss improvements in public service delivery under the government’s “Kisanja No Sleep” agenda.
Deputy Head of Public Service in charge of Performance and Service Delivery, Jane Kyarisima Mwesiga, commended UNBS for strengthening Uganda’s quality infrastructure through internationally accredited laboratories.
“Government’s deliberate investments in state-of-the-art quality infrastructure, such as the accredited laboratories witnessed here at UNBS, are fundamental to industrialisation,” Mwesiga said.
She added that compliance with standards is essential in improving the competitiveness of Ugandan products in both domestic and export markets, urging stakeholders to support quality assurance as a driver of economic transformation.
