MBARARA CITY, UGANDA — The Minister of State for Trade, Hon. Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, has called on Ugandan local producers and manufacturers to prioritize product quality and certification as a key step toward expanding their market reach both domestically and internationally.
Speaking at the official opening of the inaugural Regional Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) Trade Show held at Independence Park in Mbarara City, Gen. Mbadi emphasized that despite increasing compliance over the years, a significant number of Uganda’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) still operate with uncertified products, which limits their potential for growth.
“If BUBU is to yield greater results, our MSMEs need to understand, appreciate, and work closely with Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the National Drug Authority (NDA) to certify their products,” Mbadi said.
The trade show, organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, serves as a regional platform to showcase local innovations, promote networking, and foster linkages between producers, government institutions, and private sector stakeholders. The inaugural edition brought together exhibitors from the Greater Ankole, Kigezi, Tooro, and Rwenzori regions.
In his address, Gen. Mbadi revealed that the government has doubled the UNBS budget to increase its capacity to support MSMEs in product certification. This funding boost will allow the agency to establish more regional laboratories. He also announced a tripling of the grant to commercial officers—from UGX 2.8 billion to UGX 8.8 billion—enabling them to provide increased technical support to entrepreneurs across the country.
“This platform is a celebration of our local producers and reflects our commitment to building a self-sustaining economy,” he stated, underlining the government’s broader strategy of decentralizing trade development and supporting grassroots enterprises.
According to Gen. Mbadi, the BUBU policy has already delivered significant impact. Since its launch, the presence of Ugandan products in supermarkets has risen from 20 percent in 2015 to 56 percent in 2024. Likewise, public procurement of local products has increased from 20 percent to 60 percent, thanks to targeted industrial support programs and procurement reforms.
He noted that the construction sector has benefited greatly under BUBU, particularly through subcontracting opportunities and public works initiatives.
The Commissioner for Internal Trade, Mr. Zackey Kalega, highlighted the importance of supporting informal traders by easing their access to certification and regulatory bodies. “Many local producers face barriers like lack of certification and lengthy registration processes. This forum brings together both certified and non-certified exhibitors to encourage peer learning and smoother onboarding into formal systems,” Kalega said.
As part of the event, Gen. Mbadi also launched the inaugural BUBU Business Directory and Magazine 2025, designed to act as a centralized resource for government agencies, private companies, and other institutions sourcing locally made goods and services. The publication supports Uganda’s broader goals of import substitution and export diversification.
