East African Gazette
Kampala
The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) in partnership with Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), and Uganda Halal Bureau (UHB) have signed a groundbreaking cooperation agreement aimed at scaling up the Halal certification ecosystem to meet world standards established by the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).
The signing ceremony, which lasted nearly an hour, was held at Crested Towers in Kampala on May 22, 2024.
The event was graced by Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi, the former Ugandan Premier and current Presidential Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, including Ethiopia.His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda.
Others were represented UMSC, with Hon. Hadji Abbas Muluubya Ssekyanzi, the Secretary General, serving as a witness. Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda signed on behalf of IUIU, with Counsel Sewankambo Hamza University Secretary, as the witness. Mr. Sekandi Abdul Hakim, Chairman of the Board of Directors, signed on behalf of UHB.
Namaganda Safina, General Manager/Head of Certification and Technical Operations, as the witness.
In his opening remarks, Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi highlighted the background of the agreement, noting that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni tasked him with ensuring that Uganda, as a member of the OIC, benefits from the Global Halal Market, estimated to be worth over $1.4 trillion. He shared a lighthearted moment, recalling how, in his childhood, “Halaal meat beef slaughtered according to Islamic traditions.” Halaal is a broad term for anything permissible in Islam.
Mbabazi further explained the formation of a special subcommittee under HE Rashid Ssemudu, Ugandan Ambassador to Sudan and the State of Qatar, will facilitate the involvement of the three principal stakeholders and government authorities, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
He also outlined the anticipated benefits of Ugandan certified Halal products entering the global market, will increase the industrial growth, job creation, foreign earnings, human resource training, and poverty alleviation.
Other speeches praising the milestones achieved were delivered by Ambassador Ssemudu, the Mufti, the University Rector, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of UHB.
The agreement defines the roles of the three signatories in accreditation, certification, and laboratory testing of manufactured products to meet OIC/SMIIC standards.
Companies certified with Halal
According to Safinah Namaganda , the General Manager and Head of Certification and Technical Operations Halal said so far Uganda has over 50 companies and over 20,000 products that are certified with Halal.
She noted that Uganda Halal Bureau was formed to ensure the manufactured food is free from any contamination as guided by Halal standards as well as food safety management systems.
She called upon companies who are not yet certified with Halal to register in order to access the market in the Middle East countries.
What is Halal Ecosystem?
The Halal Ecosystem is a network of components involved in growth cycle and delivery of Halal products or services contributing to the overall socio-economic development
What is the Agreement mean
According to Rashid Ssemudu, Ugandan Ambassador to Sudan, Uganda will be able to increase the volume of food products exported in the Middle East countries and other Muslim dominated countries world over.
‘’With the help of Halal Ecosystem on Halal Food that are yet to be introduced, Ugandan food companies will be able to be connected to over 188 countries including Middle East countries and non-Muslim countries’’ said Ssemudu
Statistics
According to Bank of Uganda preliminary findings, regional and Middle East Markets remain key destinations for Uganda’s export. Uganda exports increased to 379.16 USD Million in July from 365.13 USD Million in June of 2022 and agricultural products account for 80 percent of total exports which Ssemudu says if companies comply with standards, Uganda’s products on the global market will further increase.
The biggest Ugandan export is coffee and accounts for 22 percent of total exports, followed by tea, cotton, copper, oil and fish.
Other Uganda’s main export partners include Sudan counts for 15%, Kenya 10 %, DR Congo, Netherlands, Germany, South Africa and UAE.
Recently Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of Halal standards in the country.
The development is in line with the UNBS mandate of formulating, promoting and enforcing standards for the protection of public health and safety and the environment against harmful and sub-standard products.
The agreement was aimed at providing a framework for collaboration between UNBS and UMSC specifically in the area of setting up Halal Testing laboratories and ensuring the enforcement of Standards and maintaining integrity of the Halal Brand in Uganda.
The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Abdul-Karim Katamba, UMSC Director of the Halal Department; Hon. Haj Ali Juma Ngobi, Secretary for Finance and Planning; IUIU and UHB representatives; and various government officials.
Leave a Reply