Gov’t tightens controls on grain procurement
Minister Anite emphasized the significance of Uganda's grain products, which are major exports within the East African Community and beyond.
Hon. Anite Evelyn, the State Minister of Finance for Investment and Privatization, alongside officials from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), have announced new guidelines aimed at improving the quality of grain and grain products in Uganda.
These guidelines were unveiled during a press briefing focused on the procurement standards for these vital commodities.
The government has been actively working to enhance the quality of grains and grain products traded both in Uganda and across regional markets.
This initiative aligns with the National Grain Trade Policy of 2015, which mandates that all public entities source their grain products from suppliers, certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
Minister Anite emphasized the significance of Uganda’s grain products, which are major exports within the East African Community and beyond.
However, she noted a troubling issue: “Our products have been rejected across borders due to poor post-harvest management practices that lead to contamination with aflatoxins and other quality issues.”
To address this, Anite stressed the need to enforce compliance with grain standards to safeguard human and animal health, while promoting cross-border trade.
“The UNBS has already developed various standards for grains and grain products, certifying over 630 providers across the country. These certified providers have a combined production capacity of over 217,000 tons of maize products per month.” She noted.
Anite revealed that the list of certified providers is available on the UNBS portal, making it accessible for public entities to comply with the new regulations.
To further ensure adherence, the PPDA has issued Guideline No. 13 of 2024, which requires all government entities to procure grain and grain products exclusively from UNBS-certified providers.
This new guideline, rooted in Section 134 of the PPDA Act Cap 205, empowers the PPDA to issue and enforce regulations that enhance public procurement processes.
It is already applying to all government procuring and disposing entities as it started from August 23, 2024, with primary and secondary schools given until January 2025 to comply.
The government’s commitment to improving grain quality is expected to strengthen Uganda’s position in regional and international markets, while also protecting public health.
