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Trade Minister Urges UNBS to Target Sources, Not Traders of Counterfeits

03 July, 2025
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The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, has cautioned the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) against punishing traders who are found selling counterfeit goods, but instead target the source of such items.


Speaking at the installation of the 10th National Standards Council, Mwebesa emphasized the need for the Bureau and its enforcement arms to focus on supporting traders and manufacturers rather than intimidating them.

The Minister recounted his experiences in the private sector, lamenting the fear that sweeps through business communities whenever UNBS enforcement teams are deployed. He defended traders, stating that they are the country’s major taxpayers and essential to the economic engine.

State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Gen. Wilson Mbadi, underscored the importance of trade in Uganda’s national development strategy. He said the appointment of the new council comes at a time when the country is deepening integration into global and regional trading systems. 

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