UNBS Warns Against Substandard Cement as Consumer Fraud Reports Rise

What the report says

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards has begun a nationwide crackdown on underweight and substandard cement after receiving consumer complaints about possible fraud in the building materials market, according to Nile Post. The agency said the reports, amplified on social media, raised concerns that some cement sold as 50kg bags may contain less product than advertised.

UNBS Executive Director Eng. James Kasigwa said the bureau is investigating the cement supply chain to determine how widespread the problem may be. He warned that tampering with the weight and quality of construction materials can undermine building safety and damage confidence in Uganda’s infrastructure sector. UNBS also said it has released a list of cement manufacturers whose products meet national standards.

The approved companies named by the bureau include Hima Cement, Tororo Cement, National Cement Uganda’s Simba Cement, YBIH Cement Uganda, Metro Cement, and Old Continent Group Africa. UNBS advised buyers to use authorised suppliers and to be alert when purchasing cement for construction projects. The agency said that during the last financial year it confiscated more than 880 tonnes of substandard products worth about Shs3 billion as part of its surveillance work.

Kasigwa also pointed to funding constraints that limit inspections and enforcement, and UNBS warned traders about impostors posing as officials to solicit money. More broadly, the case highlights the challenges regulators face in policing quality in a growing construction market.