By Victor Andama.

Madi Okollo District leaders have demanded for an affirmative action to be taken to close the wide staffing gap in the district.

During a heated discussion with the State Minister for Public Service at the district headquarters on Wednesday 1^st April 2026, the Madi Okollo District Woman Member of Parliament, Joan Aniku Okia, asked the Ministry to pay an urgent attention to address the service delivery gap in the district.

“I want to draw your attention particularly to the key sectors of education, health and production. A child may be dull but if the service he/she is supposed to receive is in adequate what do you expect?” Joanne asked.

Bruno Nawoya, the Chief Administrative Officer, remarked that, the district has failed to attract staff in key positions, and requested the minister for waiver to change the acting staff to substantial positions, adding that over 180 positions remain unfulfilled hampering effective service delivery.

The Madi Okollo District Chairman, Ismail Drabe Idrisi, requested for a deliberate action to recruit staff to address low performance in some key sectors.

Drabe said that Madi Okollo was used by Arua district as dumping grounds for teachers who are drunkards.

“The education sector of Madi Okollo was killed by the then Arua District by posting only rejected, drunkards’ teachers to the then Madi County. Dear minister, Madi Okollo still needs 1,057 teachers and has only managed to recruit 800,” Andama said.

Adam Kisime Mugara, the Asst Commissioner Human Resource Management at the public service, the in charge of wage bill and pay roll at the Ministry on his part promised that, in the coming recruitment, a special consideration will be given to Madi Okollo.

Meanwhile, Mary Grace Mugasi, the State Minister for Public Service, in her response assured the district leaders of her commitment to ensuring that the staffing gap rises to 65 percent in her remaining term of office.

“My people of Madi Okollo, I need to assure you for an action not far before my term of office expires,” the Minister affirmed.

Carved out of Arua District in 2019, Madi Okollo District was meant to bring services closer to the people—but years on, that promise remains only partially fulfilled. With staffing levels in some departments estimated to be below half of the approved structure, and critical officers commuting daily from Arua City, the district continues to lose both time and resources, with multiple vehicles consuming tens of litres of fuel each day even before work begins.

The result is a cycle of delayed service delivery, overstretched frontline workers, and growing public frustration. As the district navigates its early years, the real test lies not just in filling positions, but in restoring presence, efficiency, and public trust—ensuring that decentralization delivers not just structures, but services that truly reach the people.

END.

By Vasco Gift.

Families of children who got injured after a grenade they were playing with in Koboko exploded; are calling on the government to come to their rescue with support for their livelihood.

While shading tears during an interview, Happy Yusuf Yassin a 13 year old survivor with many injuries explains that they were seven boys who went to bath then he saw the grenade looking new lying in the water where they used to bath.

So, he picked and six of his brothers gathered around and they started playing with it until smoke began to rise from it with some loud sound that forced them to run away like 7 to 10meters before it blasted. However, some were already trapped.

“Unfortunately, my brother Acidri Jamali who was busy bathing after hearing us running came out of the river running towards us for his safety without knowing what was happening got himself into the area where the grenade blasted when he just left the place few meters, cutting his throat where he died on spot. Also, I have many injuries on my body, I need the government to support my studies because am already disabled and it’s hard to do work or help my parents like other children. Though I can only beat the drum during independence days for the school but movement is still a big problem,” he narrated.

Similarly, Lucky Yasir, another victim is Primary Five Pupil and studies at Lurujo primary school which is located in Lobule Sub County in Koboko district. His dream is to become a teacher.

Lucky who has become disabled and battling with the injuries reveals that when he remembers the incident he gets traumatized and he doesn’t know if he can walk again. “Up to now, my legs start to pain when I move and go to school and even it is very hard for me to dig at home or help my parents and even participate in school co-curriculum activities like football and drama among others. These days wounds create themselves on my legs and pieces of broken bones come out very painful. I want government to take me for surgery. Am suffering, I can’t walk well now, my condition is worsening every day,” he notes.

Kasim Ramadan the father to four of the victims involved in the grenade blast noted that the incident occurred when he was in the village digging but when he was called on phone that three of his children got serious injuries, he had to rush to town (koboko) only to find his children at koboko hospital though they went up to the police to record statements, it had affected them already.

“I was not having money because everything needs money that forced me to borrow a loan of Ugx 4 million from Koboko United Sacco though I just completed paying in June 2025. I have 12 children and I am a Peasant Farmer but with the new conditions, one of my children called Raisi Mudasiri is suffering, he has compound fracture on his legs while for Lucky Yasir, his legs swell and pain a lot especially if he moves even a short distance and also has sleepless nights. Mostly, I use boda boda to carry him to school. I have one child in Primary Three; the one whose leg got broken is in primary four and the other one is in Primary Five.  I want the government to help me to do surgery and also sponsor those children to study because I am going to be busy digging and no one can support me with garden work and grazing of animals coupled with the burden of children going to boarding school, it is very hard to care for them with the conditions,” he cried out.

Yassin Dratibi a resident of Lipa cell, koboko municipality who doubles as a teacher at Nile Junior Nursery and primary school and the father to Acidri Jamali the deceased cites the need for the government to intervene in and support his children because the grenade belongs to the government.

Yassin said that the incident happened when he was in Lobule sub county (village) and immediately after phone call, he came direct to school though he was not informed of his first born Acidri Jamal’s death who was 10 years old, later he realized his son is dead .

The boy died on September 10^th, 2022 and buried on September 11^th, 2022. The deceased was taken to police and then later they went for postmortem at Koboko hospital and the body was taken home.

“I spent around Ugx 8 million that’s to say three bulls, 4bags of maize flour, 3 bags of sugar, and 1 carton of soap, among others. I heard Hon. James Baba the Member of Parliament for Koboko County sent some support but it didn’t reach me. Hon. Charles Ayume also gave me Ugx 100,000/= and they referred me to go and open case against the government of Uganda but as poor as I am, how will I sue the government, it’s impossible and it’s a way of also trying to disorganize me. Why doesn’t the government sympathize with me in all these? I then approached Honorable Aate Sharifah Taban the Woman Member Of Parliament for Koboko District for guidance and she told me that it’s under the security. What she is going to do is to help me on a humanitarian basis but up to now nothing is done and I’m in suspense,” he explained

Now, after many years of following the file from Koboko central police station, the police pulled out a General Reference last month indicating GF /11^th/9/ 2022 though the incident happened on 10^th September 2022 and they told him to sort it with the office of the Resident District Commissioner of Koboko.

Dominic Otyeno, the in charge, criminal investigation department noted, “That case started in 2022 and I came to koboko here in 2023. So, when I tried to check the case file it was not there, we only got the Reference it was registered as GF that’s general reference book file. However, I don’t know who told them because the person who brought the children said the policeman who was there told them that the children who survived will be paid after 5 years. So, there is no reality because all the officers have been transferred and it’s the government that pays the Police so no police officer will utter such kind of words maybe office of the Resident district commissioner can.”

However, the Resident District Commissioner of Koboko District, Emmy Mitala, says he is not aware of the information.

As a surprise, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Koboko, Haji Marjani Wailire, acknowledges the incident and says that the information has reached their office though they have advised the families to get letters from the LC1 Chairperson of the village, LC III Chairperson of the division and also a letter from the LC 5 Chairperson to prove acknowledgement.

“First of all, they have delayed to reach our office. Imagine since 2022 and now they are still following up in 2024, we only need those letters and we will sit to see the circumstance under which it happened and if it’s genuine then our office will forward it to the responsible office above us to be credited, they must be patient and wait because we are still investigating the situation,” he stated.

Hon. Mambo Ashrafu the LC5 Chairperson of Koboko District, said that if the Office of the Resident District Commissioner koboko is delaying the process, he will organize with the family and the office of District Police Commander, District Internal Security Office and the Deputy Resident District Commissioner to come up with a solution to address and find a way to settle the victims (family) as quick as possible because it has taken time since 2022.

The incident happened on 10^th of September 2022 around 2 to 3pm in Abele valley along Sinyani River. The victims were seven in number though one died on spot, others became disabled and some sustained terrible injuries.

The two families continue to call for justice to prevail for the deceased and the survivors of the grenade in Koboko as the future of the children remain uncertain as the process to justice is proving to be futile.

END.

By Victor Andama,

Farmers in Madi Okollo District have been urged to alleviate poverty by venturing in high value crops like coffee and cocoa.

Issac Chadri Adyeri, a member of the Madi Okollo District Farmers Association, (MADIFA) made the remarks while meeting farmers of Offaka sub county, at the sub county headquarters on Monday 30^th March 2026.

Chadri said by venturing in coffee and cocoa, farmers will alleviate poverty and improve their economic status.

“As all of us are aware, Madi Okollo is among the few districts in Uganda with vast arable land so far, which still remains underutilized, this can be put to better use for strategic enterprises such as coffee, cocoa, apiculture, tree planting, among other enterprises,” Adyer said.

Victor Wadri, a soil scientist working in Muni University on his part stressed the need to form cooperatives in order to decisively eliminate middlemen.

While breaking down the benefit of the cash crop, Wadri said under ideal conditions and following good agronomic practices, one coffee plant yields between 2-5kg and an acre requires 1,600 seedlings with a spacing of 2.5 mmetres. Considering low yield, an acre generates 3,200 coffee beans (Asele), a farmer is able to get up to Ugx 40 million per year.

While interacting with some of the farmers, Mr. Anyarumva Joshua, from Elibu Parish highly welcomed the move saying for long time they have been relying on crops such as tobacco and cotton which they do not earn much money from.

Vakindu Celine, a single mother from Adraa Parish, also said she will collectively work with her four children to grow coffee which she believes will help them after two and half years.

‘I don’t have problem with labour force because my children have grown up. No need to spend money to hire labour from elsewhere,” Vakindu said.’

Charles Etoma, the Regional Agriculture Officer in charge of coffee said the Ministry Of Agriculture Animal Industries And Fisheries (MAAIF) plans to distribute Arabica and colonial coffee wilt disease resistant (CWDR) robust seedlings, adding that Arabica shall be for Nebbi, Zombo, Arua District, Moyo and Madi Okollo while Robusta shall be tried in districts which include; Arua city, Maracha, Koboko, Yumbe, Terego and Obongi, saying every individual at household level should be involved to transform the economy.

“There is need for the involvement of every generation (the young and the old) and both men and women,” He stressed.

Currently, farmers in the district are preparing their gardens to plant the first season crops.

END.

By Vasco Gift

Teachers of Nyakaliso Seed Secondary School in Koboko District have threatened to demonstrate over 9 months’ unpaid salaries.

The teachers argue that they struggle to survive and sustain themselves and the learners at the school. As a result, many teachers share food with the learners and they eat once in a day as the condition worsens.  

Some teachers have also failed to pay fees for their children while others end up picking loans from financial institutions which is also a threat for the teachers who have failed to pay back the loans.

Addressing the press in Kuluba Sub County on Friday 27^th March 2026, Edson Mushabe, a teacher, revealed that this affects learners’ performance and concentration in class.  

“You see a teacher is starving and the student he is going to teach is also starving whereby learners don’t feed well because the little food they contribute is also shared by the teachers and you wonder how the learner is going to understand things in class, They eat food once in a day which is provided by the community,” Mushabe said.  

Mushabe also said, he has so far visited the office of the Chief Administrative Officer five times on the same issue but the only promise is that the school should give the district 2weeks. 

He added that this will now no longer work as teachers are not willing to give another 2 weeks lest they have agreed to organize and march to the district headquarters within 2 weeks in a peaceful demonstration.

Patrick Onema, the Director of Studies, observed that the staff motivation has gone down as they survive on borrowing money and if their cry is not listened to within 2 weeks, teaching of the students will be difficult.

Irene Aderu, an Education Officer, who has spent 23years in teaching profession also revealed that it has taken 9 months without receiving any wage though they keep teaching the students.

On her own experience, she said that her boy who is the first born in the the family didn’t join university since last year (2025) because she is unable to provide daily family needs

Aderu further laments that they share the little food community provides for the learners and even sometimes teachers forego without food as the condition is becoming unbearable as her hope has vanished because when she was working in other schools and organizations  her money is paid timely and it was easier to support her children in school. She appealed to the government to come to their rescue before the end of March.

Sara Agnes, the Head Mistress, expressed that they started teaching in July, 2025 unfortunately, they have not been paid though she made a lot of efforts like submission of their documents of employment so that they can be put on payroll but the Chief Administrative Officer of Koboko District said, there is a shortfall in the wage for secondary education.

Besides that, Sara also expressed her disappointment in the Chief Administrative Officer of Koboko for not signing the letter she wrote on the 3^rd of January 2026 and addressed through the district to the Permanent Secretary.

Sara further said that if the district will not respond to them within the 2 weeks, the school will have to bring in other arms of government like IGG to intervene in and find out what is happening.

In a response, Nicholas Ogwang, the Chief Administrative Officer of Koboko district, said official letters on behalf of the district needs to be written by a responsible officer from the district not any correspondent from any school can do that because it addresses key matters of the government and as a district, they are charged with the responsibility of managing and paying of staff salaries and also coordinating all the government programs in the district.

On the salary issue, Ogwang said there is a challenge with the budget to pay the wages of the teachers and as officers they have tried to push to the ministry to be effected and harmonized at the level of the Ministry. 

Ogwang also revealed that there was a harmonization exercise which was done by the Ministry to shift some funds from Primary sector to Secondary level to solve the issue though not harmonized yet, the staff should be disciplined and  patient because the salaries of affected staff will be paid in arrears.

Nyakaliso seed secondary school which was constructed by the government of Uganda through the Ministry Of Education has 28 teachers and the staff have given 2 weeks for the district to respond to their demand before they lay down their tools.

END.

By: Anzoo Evaline and Bazio Doreen.

The Ministry of Public Service has conducted a training for Heads of Departments, Head teachers of both Primary and Secondary schools, and institutional in-charges in Adjumani District on the use of the Balanced Score Card as a new approach to staff appraisal aimed at improving service delivery.

The training brought together key supervisors responsible for managing public servants, equipping them with skills to effectively monitor and evaluate staff performance using the newly introduced system.

While making his opening remarks at the training that took place on 25^th March 2026 at the district council hall, Edema Richard emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating that the initiative which was launched in 2024 replaced traditional appraisal and there is a need for all staff to adopt it.

“I implore you to adopt this initiative to improve the assessment and appraisal of the performance of the staff that you supervise,” Edema said.

Officials from the Ministry explained that the introduction of the Balance Score Card is part of broader government efforts to address concerns about performance in public service and digitize government systems.

On the other hand, Charles Matuma, the Principal Human Resources Officer, noted that the Ministry of Public Service had introduced the initiative in response to complaints from the public on the quality of service delivery offered to them.

“You are aware there are a lot of complaints in the public about the performance of public officers and therefore that’s the reason the government has come up with a number of strategies on how to improve performance. For this particular visit, we have come to sensitize you on the new appraisal tool,” Matuma said.

He added: “The Balanced Score Card is expected to not only digitize and automate human resource supervision but also make salary payment more efficient”.

On her part, Hon. Adrupio Irene Appi, the Secretary for Finance who represented the District Chairperson, called on participants to embrace the new system and apply the knowledge gained.

“Nowadays new things are coming every time. Those days we sit face to face. Discuss what you want with your supervisor. But now the government is coming to have us online where you think you can do whatever you want. So, I ask everybody in this room let us abide by what they have equipped us with,” Hon. Appi said.

The training marks a significant step in strengthening accountability and performance management in public institutions within Adjumani, with leaders expected to cascade the knowledge to their respective teams for improved service delivery.

The Balanced Score Card is in line with the National/District Development Plan IV; the District Clients Charter (2025 – 2030); Annual Work plans, schedule of duties; Performance management guidelines; and performance contracts.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

WaterAid Uganda has officially commissioned and handed over newly constructed sanitary facilities at two health facilities under the SHARE project to the district leadership in Adjumani District, marking a major milestone in improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in health facilities.

The SHARE project, a five-year consortium initiative implemented in both Adjumani and Buyende District and led by Right to Play, has focused on strengthening health systems and promoting safe deliveries through improved sanitation infrastructure.

Under this project, WaterAid constructed modern sanitary facilities at Maaji B HC III in Ukusijoni Sub County and at Ofua Health Center III in Ofua Sub County to address long-standing WASH challenges.

Speaking during the commissioning on Thursday 19^th March 2026, Tako Stephen, Senior Clinical Officer and In-Charge of Ofua Health Center III, expressed gratitude for the support, highlighting the transformation the facility has undergone.

“I’m so grateful for the team today that have come for the official commissioning of the projects that are being undertaken and supported by the SHARE project. We are very happy for the SHARE project because previously we had so many challenges in the facility. One is the issue of the sanitation,” Tako said.

Tako added that they previously had: a poor sanitary facility with an ordinary pit latrine which was full and not drainable; challenges with the hand hygiene; water shortage in the laboratory and the Labour suites.

“We were trained on issues of WASH. We received a great support from the SHARE project through WaterAid and that is why we are able to receive that facility that is the eight stands of a drainable latrine with the eight bathrooms behind. And I think that has improved our central facilities greatly,” Tako said.

Tako further added: “And I’m proud to say that we have increased from 16 to 30 health deliveries being done at the health facility. But it is not just a matter of having the deliveries, but also ensuring that mothers are delivering in a safe environment. In terms of improved hygiene and hygiene and prevention control standards.”

Representing the Country Director, Priscilla Nkwene Kimbugwe, Acting Director of Programmes at WaterAid Uganda, emphasized the importance of collaboration and the impact achieved through the project:

“Today, as we celebrate the journey that we have made, it has been a journey where we collaborated with the districts in carrying out assessments to ensure that we have the right beneficiary. And I’m glad that this decision and results that we got came in as a partnership aspect. And today we are here to celebrate the milestones that the project has registered. I want to take the opportunity to thank the health facility management team, the in charge of Ofua, who have worked tirelessly with us, with David, our project officer, and the other members in the consortium,” Pricilla said.

Priscilla added: “With all the efforts between Water Aid and the project and the health facilities, we are grateful that today we are here to celebrate and hand over these facilities. As one of our approaches as Water Aid, we believe in system strengthening. And we are proud to say we have strengthened the system of the district health team, but also the health facility team”.

District health officials also welcomed the development, noting improvements in infrastructure and infection prevention.

Lobe Wilson, the Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Environmental Health, said: “My sincere thanks to SHARE project in particularly WaterAid Adjumani. I’m very grateful WaterAid is constructing two blocks with the adequate hand washing facility. And when you also look at this maternity ward, the ceiling was severely crack. You may even fear to enter there. But through this support of WaterAid, today we have seen they have made at least same permanent one. I’m sure infection and prevention control is now in place. I will appeal to in charges to educate our clients about the use of that facility. It may be like that but if utilization is not proper it may become also infection centre.”

Representing the Refugee Desk Officer, the Office of the Prime Minister Pakele, Dranzoa Christine, highlighted the shared benefits between host communities and refugees:

“We are really very grateful. And on behalf of OPM, I must say we are very grateful. Though the intervention looks more on the host side, but you know the population of the refugees and the host is the same. We are all using the same facilities and also, we are using all government services together. So, it means we are all together and everything we shall be working together.”

Dranzoa added: “And to the health center management, make sure the operation and maintenance aspect has to be undertaken and we are also equally going to support in monitoring to see that everything runs smoothly.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Resident District Commissioner Emmanuel Okware commended partners for their collaboration and commitment:

“I thank the partners who have been involved in this intervention. I also thank the leadership who have been involved in helping us to identify the gaps and also commit in the collaboration. I want to thank WaterAid country director. I want to thank WaterAid program director with the entire team for the commitment that they have had in Adjumani and for the leadership that they have offered the other partners in this in this wash delivery of services. We expect the outcomes from these interventions now to save us from the other dangerous the infections the water borne diseases.”

The newly commissioned facilities are expected to significantly improve hygiene standards, reduce infections, and enhance safe delivery services in Adjumani, benefiting both host communities and refugees who depend on the same health services.

END

They produce. They sell. They survive. But without certification, women-led refugee businesses in Adjumani remain invisible beyond their communities—trapped between resilience and risk, where livelihoods grow but safety is never guaranteed.

By Bazio Doreen.

By sunrise, the smoke has already begun to rise from the cooking fires in many settlements across Adjumani District. Inside a small, makeshift shelter, Anzoa Susan, 32, a bee keeper based in Pagirinya Settlement, carefully wipes the rim of a reused container before pouring in thick, yellowish-brown honey. She works slowly, deliberately; not because she has time, but because she cannot afford mistakes.

After being trained by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), an NGO operating in the Adjumani, Anzoa started this informal honey business which feeds her children, pays for health care and also caters for the school fees of her two children whenever it can. And yet, beyond her residential village, it is almost invisible.

“We have been doing this honey business since 2021 using the few materials and equipment that were provided by LWF. I have heard about certification but we can’t afford it on our own because branding alone is expensive for us. However, even with no proper storage for the honey, we ensure to abide by the measurement standards in the market,” Anzoa explained.

In practice, “measurement standards” go beyond estimation or routine practice, they require calibrated tools, verified quantities, and consistent units. Without proper measurement systems, a litre of honey may not always be a litre, affecting not only pricing but also fairness in trade and consumer trust. This is where metrology, the science of measurement becomes critical, ensuring that every product sold meets accurate and verifiable standards.

The reality beneath the resilience.

In Adjumani District, stories like Anzoa’s are everywhere in Adjumani’s 19 refugees’ settlements. Women have turned loss into labor, and labor into livelihood. But behind that resilience is a harder truth. For most women here, business is not ambition but survival. This shift is driven by a need for self-reliance following reduced humanitarian aid and funding cuts from international agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNHCR.

According to a report shared by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) released in 2021 on employment statistics for refugees in Uganda, only 29% of refugees in Uganda are actively working versus 64% of host communities.

Interestingly, Adjumani has a total population of approximately 528,885 people with refugees making up nearly 43–45%, effectively creating a 1:1 ratio with the host community in many areas. According to UNHCR and OPM, about 85% of the refugee population in the 19 settlements are women and children.

Even after considering differences in age, gender and education, refugees are 35% points less likely than Ugandan nationals to be employed which leaves self-employment as the most immediate solution. Most refugees earn between Ugshs 150,000/= and Ugshs 250,000/= a month from these informal businesses which is just enough to live day-to-day, but never enough to grow.

Certification is more than a regulatory requirement, it is a gateway to formal markets. Products bearing a recognized quality mark signal compliance with national standards, enabling producers to access supermarkets, institutional buyers, and cross-border trade. Without this certification, even high-quality products remain confined to informal markets, where trust is personal and growth is limited.

Although Uganda’s refugee model, led by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), has given such enterprising women the opportunity to build something consistent and valuable, product certification has become a wall they cannot see, but feel every day. Although, the mandate to ensure product safety and quality lies with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, here in the settlements, that system feels far away.

According to Antonio Ssemakalu, a Senior Metrologist at Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), and Secretary of the Quality Assurance Association of Uganda, so far UNBS hasn’t directly worked with refugees and there is no product of refugees in Adjumani that has been certified yet but this can be changed with close partnership with authorities in charge of refugees.

“We usually do certification for small and medium enterprises and startups at a subsidized cost. I believe many refugee businesses fall in this category; so this can be considered if UNBS partners with OPM or UNHCR. Together with the UNBS Gulu regional office, we can conduct trainings and specialized outreaches in refugee settlments to create awareness on product certification;” Antonio suggested.  

However, he adds that UNBS is aware of authorities like the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) that are indirectly ensuring standards and safety by ensuring that the food given to refugees by the World Food Program and its partners is safe for consumption. 

In 2018, government started implementing mandatory certification with a distinctive mark (Q mark) for all products covered under compulsory standards. These products among others include: foods, drinks, electronics, cosmetics, steel products, cement, confectionaries, apiary, and mattresses.   

To implement this, UNBS has previously partners with other stakeholders to scale up sensitization and create awareness on the laws and regulations that support the mandate of the bureau. These include: Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA), and The National Apiculture Development Organization (TUNADO).

The Cost of Being Unseen.

For Akuol Deng Elizabeth, 34, the Vice Chairperson Refugee Welfare Council II Nyumanzi Settlement, the problem is not effort, it is trust. She says that although since 2014, she has been preaching self-reliance to women and acting as a role model to them through her liquid soap business, her main customers are only those who know her. Without certification, her prices stay low; the market stays small and growth stays out of reach. With certification, Akuol’s liquid soap could easily access supermarkets and be supplied to those who consume in bulk.

“Being able to only market our products to our refugees who are struggling financially just like us makes our businesses for just survival and limits the market. Although we hope to do better in the next 3 years if we get support, for now we only market through our friends; every member of our savings group does marketing,” Akuol Deng explained.

On the other hand, for Tamaria Scovia, 37, a Volunteer Reusable Sanitary Pads Mentor trained by Right to Play, an NGO operating in Adjumani; the stakes are even more personal. A team of 25 women entrepreneurs is not just selling a product but protecting dignity.

“We chose this product because it is cost effective for the girls, many of them have dropped out of school due to the shame that fails with maintain proper menstrual hygiene,” Tamaria noted.

While this is a noble cause, without quality assurance; materials vary, safety cannot be guaranteed and opportunities to supply schools, markets outside the settlement or NGOs disappear. Certified sanitary pads can be supplied to schools/NGOs and Tamaria’s group may be able to increase or multiply their current monthly income of between Ugshs 400,000/= and Ugshs 500,000/= after selling between at least 100 reusable pads a week.

“Due to limited access to materials, our materials are likely to be of a low quality. Also because of limited capital and low profits, we fail to produce in bulk, since we manufacture and store the products in our homes. We also sell piece by piece in polythene bags that are not even sealed during market days because we can’t afford packaging,” Tamaria revealed. 

The Quiet Risk in Everyday Products.

In many homes across Adjumani including those in the settlments: local honey is consumed without quality testing; liquid soap is used without standard formulation and sanitary products are trusted without certification. While nothing seems visibly wrong; neither is it officially safe.

Standards exist to close precisely this gap between perception and proof. Through testing, certification, and enforcement, they ensure that products meet minimum safety, hygiene, and quality requirements. In their absence, both producers and consumers operate in uncertainty, where risks are not always visible, but can have real consequences for health, safety, and livelihoods.

At Pagirinya II Market, Maritina Lawa, a refugee vendor who sells some of these locally made products said that although overtime manufacturers have made an effort to improve on cleanliness, and packaging, the storage of products is still poor and this affects their business.

“Some products have to be sold off as soon as possible because storage is poor and improvised while on the other hand many entrepreneurs not only have limited access to quality raw materials but can’t afford preservation,” Lawa observed. 

Indeed, consumers like Alice Bibiana Amadrio, observe that many local products are thought to be original and devoid of chemicals of harmful substances but product certification with a UNBS ‘Q mark’ would give the much needed confidence to protect consumers from products that may risk their health.

The solution within reach.

Experts point to simple, powerful interventions like: taking certification services into settlements; reducing costs for small producers; training women in quality standards; building direct links between OPM and UNBS programs; and also advocating for the co-opting of refugees in government wealth creation programs.  Government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and GROW which either target women or ring fence a certain percentage of the beneficiaries for women.

Dipio Agnes, the Adjumani District Commercial Officer, now says there is a need not only to advocate for more products in Adjumani to be certified especially in the settlements but there is a need to upscale the uptake of local manufacturing and local economic development.

“We have already set up one refugee cooperative in Mungula Settlement in Itirikwa Sub County. Business requires persistence, depending on grants from NGOs is not sustainable. Refugees can be supported to gain better from their enterprises through targeted outreaches and sensitization because the Ugandan economy is liberal and refugees can trade anywhere,” Dipio advised. 

Such interventions have the potential to do more than improve compliance, they can transform entire value chains. When producers are trained in standards, equipped with proper measurement tools, and supported through certification processes, their products become more competitive, consistent, and trusted. This not only increases incomes but also strengthens consumer confidence and integrates informal enterprises into the broader economy.

With the district authorities already walking this journey, women like Anzoa can be supported to not only make the best out of her honey business but also remain resilience in the face of budget cuts to NGOs and reduced food rations to refugees.

As evening falls, Anzoa ties a cloth over her bucket and sets it aside. Tomorrow, she will return to the market. She will sell what she can. She will earn what she must. And she will continue to build something that works; but is not yet recognized.

In Adjumani, women have already done the hardest part, they have built businesses out of survival. What remains is a system willing to see them, support them, and ensure that their products meet national standards, are accurately measured, and are safe for public consumption

According to data from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, most of Small and Medium Enterprises operate largely in the informal sector, generating about 80 percent of the country’s manufactured output and making a significant contribution to the economy. Additionally, in the 2024/2025 financial year, UNBS handled 30 civil cases, while 95 criminal cases were recorded related to breaches of standards and metrology laws.

This story was published in partnership with Ultimate Media Consult and Uganda National Bureau of Standards.

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