UNBS Explains Underweight Cement Bags

Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has attributed the growing problem of underweight cement bags to weaknesses in the supply chain after products leave the factory, while calling for investment in modern testing technology to strengthen product certification and enforcement.

The bureau says all six licensed cement manufacturers meet the required standards at the point of production, but the quality and quantity of cement are sometimes compromised by unscrupulous actors involved in transportation, storage and distribution. The concerns follow viral videos showing cement bags weighing between 40 and 42 kilogrammes instead of the standard 50 kilogrammes.

The incident sparked public debate, with some players in the construction sector alleging that traders siphon cement from genuine bags or mix it with fillers such as clay dust and sand before reselling it. Speaking to journalists at UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere, Executive Director Engineer James Kasigwa said the bureau continues to ensure that cement leaving factories complies with national standards, but acknowledged that the problem extends beyond manufacturers.

“We have been working with the six manufacturers to ensure good quality and quantity, but the problem comes from other parts of the value chain—transporters, stores, engineers and masons. Cement can easily be reduced or contaminated after leaving the factory,” Kasigwa said.

Kasigwa said quality assurance should not be left to UNBS alone, arguing that manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers all have a role to play in safeguarding standards. He also acknowledged that UNBS is operating below its desired capacity because of limited laboratory infrastructure, outdated equipment and staffing shortages.

According to Kasigwa, the bureau currently operates at about 50 percent capacity and requires investment in automated and non-destructive testing technologies. He cited tyre testing as one example where existing methods require destroying a tyre during inspection, saying modern equipment would enable faster certification without damaging products while improving trade facilitation.

Kasigwa added that UNBS is also developing standards for products that currently lack them, including fruit wine and other emerging products. UNBS Deputy Executive Director Patricia Bageine Ejalu said the bureau urgently needs specialised laboratory equipment to reduce the time businesses wait for product certification. She said certification currently takes about 14 days, affecting businesses that depend on timely market access.

Responding to concerns about certification costs, Ejalu said small and medium enterprises pay Shs500,000 per product, while medium and large manufacturers pay Shs1 million. She explained that the fees largely finance laboratory operations, leaving little room to invest in new technology.

However, she said UNBS plans to review and lower certification charges to encourage more businesses to seek certification and increase overall laboratory revenue. Ejalu also urged innovators to focus on developing and certifying one product at a time instead of introducing multiple products simultaneously, saying this would help maintain quality and reduce certification costs.

The remarks were made during the 7th Heads of Government Agencies meeting hosted by UNBS on Wednesday. The initiative, spearheaded by the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, seeks to strengthen collaboration among government agencies. During the meeting, officials toured UNBS laboratories, including the Chemistry, Microbiology, Mechanical, Materials and Building, Electrical, and Meter Testing laboratories, to assess the bureau’s testing and certification capabilities.