Business 22 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Revises Metrology Laws to Boost Trade and Consumer Safety
The Ugandan government is undertaking a review of its metrology laws to align with international standards, aiming to bolster fair trade and enhance consumer protection. This initiative is crucial for industrialization and ensuring accurate measurements across various sectors. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-moves-to-review-metrology-laws-to-strengthen-trade-and-consumer-protection-5469096
The Ugandan government is set to revise its metrology laws to ensure accurate measurements, which are fundamental for industrial growth and equitable trade. This move comes as experts highlight that inaccurate measurements are currently costing consumers, impacting healthcare, hindering trade, and slowing down the nation’s industrial development.
During the recent World Metrology Day celebrations, officials emphasized that reliable measurement systems are vital for consumer protection, improving product quality, and driving Uganda’s economic transformation. The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Lynette Bagonza, stressed that metrology is a critical tool for industrialization and fair trade, influencing everything from fuel sales to medical diagnoses and manufacturing standards.
“Reliable measurements are necessary for credible decisions, fair markets and public trust,” stated Bagonza, adding that Uganda’s industrial ambitions are contingent on robust standards and measurement systems.
The Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Eng. James Kasigwa, pointed out that inadequate measurement practices can lead to significant losses for both consumers and businesses. He cited examples such as faulty weighing scales, fuel pumps, and uncalibrated medical equipment, which can result in unfair trade and misdiagnoses.
Kasigwa also highlighted the importance of accurate measurements in the agricultural sector to reduce post-harvest losses and improve produce quality, as well as in the burgeoning oil and gas sector to safeguard national revenue. He urged for increased investment in calibration services, laboratories, and technical expertise to enhance Uganda’s competitiveness.
World Metrology Day, observed annually on May 20, commemorates the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875, which established global cooperation in measurement science.
Source: Compiled from Daily Monitor (Uganda)