Kabale Municipality Vendors rap UNBS over weighing scale verification fees hike

By Nathan Bahangwa

Kabale -A section of vendors in Kabale municipality have accused Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) officials for hiking the fees of weighing scale verification.

Last week, UNBS officials staged at Little Liz Kabale to meet manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers to ensure that calibration of their weighing scales is up to date, in accordance with clause 4.3.5 of Uganda Standard US 28 EAS 39:2002 and each person who took their weighing scale was requested to pay money for repairs, testing and stamping for the weighing scale.

However, Julius Mababi, a butcher in Kabale Central Market in Kigongi Ward of central division said in the past years they were paying between Ugx30,000 and Ugx50,000.

He added that he was surprised that this time they requested him to pay Ugx80,000 for repairs, testing and stamping of his weighing scale.

Fresh Food vendors in Kabale Central market, who include Besigye Tumwebaze and Unice Tumuhaise also said UNBS should always put the prices in public places so that the public gets to know the exact amount they’re supposed to should pay for repairs, testing and stamping of their weighing scales adding that this will help to avoid extortion by some UNBS officials.

When our reporter contacted the head of marketing and public relations UNBS Sylvia Kirabo, she declined to comment, adding that she will comment after consulting the officials who were carrying out the verification.