UNBS Mandates Certified Food for Schools, Eliciting Varied Responses

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has issued a directive requiring schools to purchase food items exclusively from certified suppliers. This policy targets essentials such as maize flour, beans, rice, cooking oil, and milk to enhance quality control in school meals and reduce risks from substandard products.

UNBS spokesperson Sylvia Kirabo emphasized the urgency, asking, “How safe is the food our children eat?” She urged school leaders, parents, and processors to prioritize hygiene and standards, noting that government procurement rules and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets authority enforce compliance. Private schools have received awareness sessions, and UNBS offers a hub for training on manufacturing practices and quality.

The initiative integrates standards education into curricula, allowing safe on-site production for practical training. Kirabo described it as preventive, aiming to avert food-borne illnesses without current parent complaints.

However, some administrators express concerns. Paul Butono, head teacher at Luzinga Secondary School in Kamuli, noted financial hurdles and parental in-kind contributions that complicate certification. Certified products cost more, straining budgets, and rural schools often rely on visual checks due to limited staff training.

In contrast, Zainabu Kizito of Cute Kids Kindergarten in Nansana fully complies, citing the vulnerability of young children. A Jinja student complained of suspicious smells in posho and weevils in beans, raising health worries.

Jinja City Education Officer Paul Baliraine affirmed strict procurement, pre-qualification of suppliers, quality assessments, and student feedback mechanisms. Schools face regular inspections, and support staff undergo health checks, with no confirmed contamination cases reported.

Stakeholders call on parents to actively monitor school food quality as a shared duty.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)