Hajjat Hadijja Namyalo has called on President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene in the operations of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), accusing the agency of failing to adequately monitor products entering the Ugandan market.
Speaking during a press conference at the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Namyalo said weak monitoring of agricultural chemicals and other products could be putting the public at risk.
Namyalo specifically raised concern over chemicals authorised for use in farming, arguing that greater scrutiny is needed to protect Ugandans from products that could have harmful effects on human health.
She further urged President Museveni to consider strengthening oversight mechanisms within UNBS, saying community structures across the country could support efforts to improve monitoring.
“If you lack enough monitoring tools, we shall aid you because we have structures up to the ground. We shall aid you with manpower,” Namyalo said.
She also expressed frustration over what she described as the continued sale of expired or overstayed products, saying Ugandans should not have to purchase goods whose safety and quality are questionable.
Namyalo linked poor regulation of certain products to the spread of serious diseases, including cancer and HIV/AIDS, although she did not provide specific scientific evidence establishing those links during the press conference.
Her remarks are likely to renew debate over consumer protection, the regulation of agricultural chemicals and the effectiveness of quality-control systems in Uganda.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Hajjat Hadijja Namyalo has called for President Museveni’s intervention in UNBS oversight.
- She raised concerns about agricultural chemicals authorised for use in Uganda.
- Namyalo offered grassroots structures and manpower to support monitoring efforts.
- She criticised the continued sale of expired and overstayed products.
- Her claims about links between regulated products and diseases require scientific and regulatory evidence.
TAKEAWAY
Namyalo’s remarks highlight growing concerns over product safety and regulatory enforcement in Uganda. The key issue now is whether stronger monitoring, enforcement and public accountability can ensure that expired, unsafe or substandard products do not reach consumers.
