By Sadique Bamwita
KAMPALA
The Minister for Trade, Industry and cooperatives, Hon. David Bahati has urged Small and medium enterprises to embrace accreditation so that their export products can access global markets. The Minister noted that if Ugandan beef products had been certified and accredited, they would not have been rejected in Qatar during 2022 World Cup.
While speaking to the media today August 13,2025 in Kampala, Minister Bahati revealed that in order to promote exports, Uganda will tomorrow August 14,2025, join the rest of the world to commemorate World Accreditation Day, a global initiative established by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and International Accreditation Forum. He noted that celebrations aim at raising awareness on the importance of accreditation amongst all the relevant stakeholders.
Minister Bahati revealed that this year’s celebrations will be commemorated under the theme, Empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Minister Bahati noted that available data indicate 95 percent of the businesses are small and medium enterprises, with most units employing less than 250 people each adding that they account for greater share of employment in most economies. He cited Uganda where small and medium enterprises contribute to over 70% of the country’s GDP and provide 90% of employment in the various sectors such as Agriculture, manufacturing, trade and services.
Minister Bahati however, noted that the small and medium enterprises face major challenges such as competing with large organizations, accessing finance, managing rising costs, bearing Compliance burdens and breaking into new markets.
Minister Bahati explained the benefits of accreditation as follows:
Accreditation ensures businesses have greater confidence in the accuracy of testing services because they have been generated by facilities assessed as being competent enough.
It minimises risks for businesses as decisions will be based on on reliable results .The rejection statistics of our products in export market will reduce from USD 700 m to USD 100 m by 2030.
It facilitates the free trade goal of accredited once , accepted everywhere thereby granting access to international markets for our products , ” Minister Bahati explained the benefits of accreditation.’
Minister further disclosed that the government of Uganda has established a National Accreditation office along Makubya road in Nakawa to provide accreditation services.
