UNBS WARNS THE PUBLIC AGAINST UNDERWEIGHT CEMENT CIRCULATING ON THE MARKET
6th August , 2026 , Hits: 124
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has taken note of the circulation of videos on social media alleging the rampant sale of underweight cement and wishes to clarify the matter as follows:
All the major cement manufacturers in Uganda, namely Tororo Cement Limited, National Cement Company of Uganda Limited (Simba Cement), Hima Cement Limited, UBIH Cement Uganda Ltd (Yoabai Cement), Old Continent Group(Africa) Ltd and Metro Cement Limited are certified by UNBS and are regularly inspected.
During these routine inspections and certification audits, UNBS inspectors pick samples of cement bags directly from packing points and stores, to verify the exact weight to ensure value for money and the samples are taken to the UNBS internationally accredited laboratories for testing to check the quality and ensure strict compliance with national standards. It should be noted that these inspections include notified and un-announced inspections to ensure consistent compliance.
This is in line with the UNBS legal mandate of protecting the public against dangerous, harmful, and substandard products whereby importation, manufacture, sale, distribution, or possession of any commodity that does not comply to compulsory Uganda Standards is strictly prohibited.
The most recent factory inspection results confirm that all sampled cement bags from the above manufacturers comply with the quantity requirements prescribed under the Weights and Measures Rules Act. These findings are consistent with previous assessments, which also demonstrated a track record of compliance by the manufacturers.
UNBS also extends inspections beyond cement factories to hardware shops, warehouses, and other sales outlets. These market surveillance inspections show that the underweight cement cases identified by UNBS occur at some points of sale rather than at certified manufacturing facilities.
During the last financial year 2025/2026, UNBS seized more than 880 tons of substandard products worth about 3 Billion Uganda shillings. These included food products, cosmetics and construction materials including cement , among others. The seizure of these dangerous substandard products saved the health and safety of thousands of consumers who would have been badly affected or injured if they consumed or used these products.
In the same period, our market surveillance team found 3 cement sales outlets in Mukono, Mbale and Nakasongola selling bags of cement that were underweight. Investigations revealed that these hardware shops were receiving empty cement bags from construction sites. They would then siphon cement from genuine bags, re-bag and re-seal in the used bags acquired from construction sites. The warehouses were sealed-off, suspects were arrested and are being prosecuted for their actions.
UNBS therefore clarifies that, where underweight cement is discovered on the market, the issue is usually linked to unauthorized tampering, siphoning, or repackaging during transit, storage, or point-of-sale handling, and not to factory-level non-compliance by certified manufacturers.
As a result, UNBS has intensified the market surveillance inspections as well as the pre-package control monitoring checks, to minimize and eventually eliminate the siphoning of cement from genuine bags and re-bagging it, which defrauding the unsuspecting buyers.
Any person who sells underweight and adulterated cement thereby duping unsuspecting customers, and defrauding the public commits a criminal offence and is liable to arrest and criminal prosecution.
UNBS therefore urges all hardware shops and warehouses to ensure that they sell cement of the correct weight and always check the cement delivered to their shops/stores before selling. In addition, all cement shops are required to have UNBS-verified cement weighing scales to enable buyers confirm the weight when they are buying.
On the other hand, UNBS urges all cement buyers to remain vigilant, confirm that the seller has a verified weighing scale available and verify the weight of each bag at the point of sale.
UNBS further urges all people and construction site supervisors to ensure that all empty cement bags are responsibly destroyed after use and manufacturers recall their packaging materials to prevent re-use by adulterators.
Additionally, cement buyers must pay close attention to product labels; batch numbers, manufacturing dates,etc because genuine cement bags must have these details clearly printed and if they are missing or appear tampered with, the buyers are strongly advised to report to UNBS or nearest authorities.
UNBS encourages members of the public to always report any substandard products via these toll-free lines 0800133133 or 0800233233.
About UNBS
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a Government Agency responsible for the Developing, Promotion and Enforcement of National Standards in order to protect the Health and Safety of the Public and that of the Environment against Harmful and Sub-Standard Products, as well as promoting Fair Trade and Competition.
For more information, please contact: UNBS on these toll-free lines 0800133133 or 0800233233.
Eng. James Kasigwa
Executive Director