In a move to ensure food safety and quality, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has issued a new directive requiring all government ministries, agencies, and departments to procure grains exclusively from suppliers certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
The directive, which takes effect this month, aims to safeguard the health of Ugandans and enhance the quality of food supplied to government institutions.
The directive was outlined in a set of guidelines issued to accounting officers, contract committees, and members of procurement and disposal units across various government entities. According to PPDA Executive Director Benson Turamye, the mandate is grounded in Section 134 of the PPDA Act, Cap 205.
“This guideline on procurement of grain and grain products ensures that only cereals cultivated for food—such as maize, beans, rice, and soya—and their derivatives, like maize flour and wheat flour, are purchased from certified suppliers,” Turamye explained.
The move is a response to growing concerns about the quality and safety of food supplied to government institutions, which include Uganda Prisons, Uganda Police, the Ministry of Defence, and government primary and secondary schools. In recent years, there have been several incidents where contaminated or substandard grains were linked to foodborne illnesses, prompting the need for stricter quality controls.
State Minister for Privatization and Investment, Evelyn Anite, emphasized the importance of this directive, noting that 630 service providers have already been certified by the UNBS to supply grains and grain products. She stressed that any company or supplier not certified by UNBS will be barred from selling to government entities.
“If a company or supplier is not certified by UNBS, the government will not procure from that company. This measure is crucial to prevent the purchase of contaminated foods. We are doing this to protect lives and ensure that our food meets national, regional, and international standards,” Anite said.
Anite added that the certified suppliers are capable of providing up to 217,000 tons of grain per month, which should meet the demand of the affected government entities.
The directive also stipulates that suppliers currently holding contracts with government agencies who are not among the certified 630 must update their records to include UNBS certification. Failure to do so will result in the termination of their contracts.
“There are suppliers who have existing framework contracts with government agencies. We now ask them to update their records to show their certification with UNBS, or they will be disqualified,” Turamye warned.
This directive represents a critical step towards improving food safety and quality in Uganda’s public sector, ensuring that the grains and grain products consumed in schools, prisons, and other government institutions meet the highest standards.