Minister Bahati Says Accreditation Vital for Boosting Exports and Supporting SMEs

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. David Bahati, has emphasized the importance of accreditation in growing Uganda’s exports and empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He made the remarks on August 13, 2025, ahead of this year’s World Accreditation Day celebrations.

The global event, celebrated in over 100 countries, highlights the role of accreditation in ensuring quality and trust in products and services. This year’s theme, “Accreditation: Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),” focuses on how proper quality standards can help SMEs compete better in both local and international markets. According to Minister Bahati, SMEs form the backbone of the global economy, representing 95% of businesses worldwide and employing the majority of workers. In Uganda, they contribute more than 70% of the GDP and provide about 90% of jobs in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and services.

Despite their importance, SMEs face major challenges, including stiff competition from larger firms, limited access to finance, high operational costs, and difficulties breaking into new markets. Bahati noted that accreditation can help solve many of these issues by improving trust, reducing product rejection rates, and opening doors to global trade under the principle of “accredited once, accepted everywhere.”

Uganda currently earns about USD 6 billion from exports, but the lack of accredited certifications has in the past led to losses. For example, Ugandan beef products were rejected during the 2022 Qatar World Cup due to the absence of accredited halal certification. Bahati projected that with proper accreditation, halal product exports to the Middle East could grow to USD 1.09 billion by 2030, while agricultural exports could rise from USD 1.5 billion in 2024 to USD 3.5 billion in 2030.

At present, over 2,000 facilities in Uganda offer testing and certification services, but only 125 are accredited — most by foreign bodies at an annual cost of about USD 10,000. To address this, the government established the Uganda National Accreditation Service (UGANAS) through the Accreditation Service Act of 2021. This local service is expected to cut accreditation costs by up to 40% and make the process more accessible. UGANAS, now an associate member of the African Accreditation Cooperation, operates from Nakawa and also offers training in accreditation — a skill Ugandans previously had to acquire abroad. Businesses can now access its services in person or online via **[www.uganas.go.ug](http://www.uganas.go.ug).

Minister Bahati expressed confidence that improving accreditation will strengthen SMEs, boost exports, and give Uganda a stronger foothold in regional and global markets such as the East African Community, COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area.