Uganda: The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has announced new measures requiring cement retailers to install verified weighing scales at their place of business. It also urged builders to verify the weight of every cement bag before purchase, following reports of underweight products on the market. The move comes in response to public concern after Tororo Cement bags labelled as 50kg allegedly weighed between 40kg and 42kg. UNBS executive director James Kasigwa said investigations had established that cement producers comply with national quality and weight standards, with most cases of underweight cement resulting from tampering by traders after the products leave the plant. Kasigwa urged consumers to buy cement bearing the UNBS Quality Mark as proof that it meets the country's quality standards.
UNBS market surveillance uncovered three retailers in Mukono, Mbale and Nakasongola districts selling underweight cement. Investigations established that suspects collected empty cement bags from construction sites, opened genuine bags, siphoned out part of the cement, resealed the packaging and resold the products to unsuspecting buyers.
"The warehouses were sealed off, the suspects were arrested and are being prosecuted for their illegal actions," Kasigwa said.