Billions lost to uncertified bottled water companies

Unregulated firms have free access to the biggest segment of the bottled water market.

Uncertified bottled water companies cost the government Shs2 billion per year in lost revenue.

This is worsened by the national standards body which is unaware of how much fake bottled water is trading in the market, making it the most infiltrated industry in the country.

UNBS data shows that there are only 27 brands certified by the bureau, yet there are over 48 brands on the market. Although the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) does not confirm or deny the aforementioned statistics, the UNBS executive director, Mr Ben Manyindo, said the bottled water industry is one of the most infiltrated with unscrupulous traders/firms, making regulation difficult.

Firms
In a mid-week interview with the Daily Monitor, Mr Manyindo said UNBS has certified about 40 bottled water firms.

He said: “We are trying to reach the members of Uganda Water Association to help us have all the dealers get certified by UNBS.”

But with challenges incapacitating the Standards body, among them, under funding and lack of enough expertise—both in terms of facilities and human resources—the future is bleak.

Consumer activist Shaban Sserunkuma, said government must increase funding to UNBS but also demanded that the standards body protects the consumers from harmful products.

Policy
Currently, the ministry of Trade has embarked on formulating a policy to regulate the industry.

The absence of the bottled water policy, has allowed unscrupulous individuals to penetrate the market with substandard water products, risking the health of unsuspecting consumers.

Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde, said: “Uganda’s booming bottled water industry is under threat by increasing underground businesses manufacturing fake and substandard products.

iladu@ug.nationmedia.com