Emmanuel Kakooza, the Greater Masaka Regional representative to Uganda Small Scale Industries Association –USSIA secretariat, observes that many SMEs are struggling and many times close shops due to failure to meet certification standards, which they can hardly afford at individual levels.
Micro, small and medium enterprises-MSME manufacturers in the
Masaka sub region are clamouring for the establishment of a business incubation centre as an intervention to support their growth.
A business incubation center is a one-stop facility that
offers a diversity of support services to new and startup companies to develop,
through enhancing production capacity and management skills, providing mentorship
and client linkages, peer-to-peer engagements and product testing services
among others.
Emmanuel Kakooza, the Greater Masaka Regional
representative to Uganda Small Scale Industries Association –USSIA secretariat,
observes that many SMEs are struggling and many times close shops due to failure to
meet certification standards, which they can hardly afford at individual levels.
Speaking at a sensitization seminar for Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises-MSMEs in the agricultural value chain by the Uganda National
Bureau of Standards-UNBS, Kakooza highlighted the lack of capacity to meet
required standards and compliance tests as one of the major limitations to
their growth.
He observes that despite having practical business ideas,
many operators of MSMEs lack the required capacities in terms of expertise and
equipment, needed to boost their productivity and increase competitiveness in
the market.
Kakooza explains that many MSMEs have deliberately failed
to undergo certification and business assessment processes because they cannot
pass the standards tests, a prerequisite for selling products on a wider
market.
He called upon UNBS to head a campaign of sourcing for partners
that support the idea of establishing and equipping a regional business incubation
hub in the greater Masaka, where MSMEs can access assistance towards having their
products tested for eventual certification.
Manishur Kasumba observes that the apparent lack of
capacity by the local manufacturers frustrates their aspirations of favourably competing
with exported commodities.
He indicates that having a regional incubation hub will
directly help in eliminating counterfeit and substandard products because the
local manufacturers will no longer have excuses for faulting quality standards.
Abubaker Bakulumpagi, the UNBS Principal Certification
Officer urges MSMEs and operators of cottage industries to do everything possible
to comply with the set standards, saying their enforcement teams will not spare
anyone with uncertified products.
He also cautions micro and small-sized manufacturers
against dealing in the production of many unrelated commodities, saying it increases
the chances of contamination hence the possibility of complicating the processes
of certification.
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Lindah Kobere, the UNBS Principal Surveillance Officer observes
they are establishing various partnerships to address the limitations of the
MSMEs.
She however challenges owners of the enterprises to support
efforts aimed at stamping out substandard products by voluntarily reporting
culprits and suspects to the standards’ body such that it can take appropriate actions.
