The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has seized approximately 79 tonnes of underweight cement-equivalent to 1,077 bags-during a targeted market surveillance operation at Goodshed-Biwologoma along Entebbe Road in Kampala.
The standardisation watchdog revealed in a media statement on Wednesday that its surveillance team inspected 29 cement stores and outlets during the operation.
Inspectors discovered multiple batches of cement weighing below the declared package amounts, alongside over four tonnes of empty cement bags and packaging materials suspected to be used for illegal repackaging.
Ms. Sarah Nantongo, a UNBS Senior Surveillance Officer, emphasized that the bureau is committed to protecting consumers from unfair trade practices.
“Consumers have a right to receive the accurate product quantity as declared on a product,” Ms. Nantongo said. “Any practice that deliberately compromises the quantity of a product, including the repackaging and sale of underweight commodities, is unacceptable. UNBS will continue to undertake market surveillance and take appropriate enforcement action against products and businesses that do not comply with mandatory standards.”
According to UNBS, the operation targeted numerous outlets and hardware businesses in the Goodshed area, including Alizahad Ventures, Walusimbi Store, Kateregga’s Store, Hajji Kababba Stores, Bosco’s Shop, Nambooze Lime Stores, and several unnamed outlets and trucks operating in the Goodshed and Clock Tower areas.
The bureau stated that suspects apprehended during the exercise have been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Uganda Police Force for further action, while investigations continue.
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The enforcement action was carried out under the provisions of the UNBS Act Cap 210, the UNBS Market Surveillance Regulations (2022), standard US EAS 18-1:2017 regarding cement composition and specification, and US 1028:2013 on pre-packaged product labelling requirements.
UNBS warned traders against selling non-conforming or underweight commodities and urged members of the public to report suspected cases of substandard products via its toll-free lines.