Uganda is intensifying efforts to expand its export market by positioning Ugandan products for increased access to the Algerian market, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s global trade footprint and boosting foreign exchange earnings.
The Minister of State for Cooperatives, Fred Gume, revealed this during a consultative meeting on trade arrangements between Uganda and Algeria held at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) headquarters in Bweyogerere.
Gume emphasized the importance of fostering strategic trade partnerships that prioritize value addition, standards compliance, and product quality to enhance Uganda’s export competitiveness. He noted that Uganda’s economic transformation agenda requires deliberate efforts to secure reliable and diversified export destinations beyond the traditional markets in East Africa and Europe.
“Strengthening collaboration with key international markets such as Algeria is critical to enhancing Uganda’s export performance and creating sustainable income opportunities for our farmers, manufacturers, and cooperatives,” Gume said.
He added that government is committed to supporting producers and cooperatives to meet international standards, especially in agro-processing, coffee, dairy, fish, grains, fruits, and manufactured goods. According to the minister, improving production processes and embracing certification will enable Ugandan products to penetrate premium markets and command better prices.
During the meeting, the UNBS Executive Director, Eng. James Kasigwa, reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to improving the competitiveness of Ugandan products through standards development, quality assurance, and certification services.
Kasigwa explained that standards are a catalyst for quality-driven growth, enabling enterprises to transition from informal, low-quality production to competitive players in both domestic and global value chains. He stressed that harmonized standards and mutual recognition agreements between countries reduce technical barriers to trade.
“Once a product is certified by UNBS using harmonized standards and supported by mutual recognition trade agreements, there is no need for multiple testing requirements, which significantly reduces export costs and delays,” Eng. Kasigwa said.
He further highlighted that UNBS certification facilitates access for Ugandan products not only within the country but also in regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC) and continental frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in addition to global markets.
Currently, UNBS provides both product and systems certification services, including internationally recognized standards such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and ISO management systems. These certifications enhance the credibility, safety, and market acceptance of Ugandan products, particularly in high-value international markets.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Algeria, Alintuma Nsambu, highlighted the vast market opportunities available for Ugandan goods in Algeria, one of North Africa’s largest economies. He urged Uganda’s business community to take advantage of the existing diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries to expand exports.
Nsambu noted that Algeria presents significant demand for agricultural produce, processed foods, and other manufactured goods, and encouraged Ugandan exporters to align their products with Algerian regulatory and quality requirements.
The meeting also attracted key private sector and international stakeholders, including Abdenour Seba, Chief Executive Officer of World Trade Solutions; Anna Bachurina, Business Director at SERCONS Certification Authority; Dr. Tibursious Ssendawula, Director of Wendi Farms Uganda; and senior UNBS officials.
Participants discussed practical steps to strengthen technical cooperation, streamline certification processes, and build capacity among Ugandan exporters to meet Algerian market standards. They also explored the possibility of establishing mutual recognition frameworks to ease trade flows between the two countries.
As Uganda continues to pursue export-led growth, strengthening standards compliance, deepening trade diplomacy, and building strategic partnerships remain central to unlocking new markets. The Algeria engagement marks another step in Uganda’s broader strategy to diversify exports, reduce trade imbalances, and drive industrialization through value addition and quality assurance.