By Karim Were
KAMPALA — Uganda is moving to strengthen its Halal certification framework as the country seeks to position itself as a leading Halal export hub for East and Central Africa.
The initiative, backed by government, seeks to address gaps identified in an assessment of Uganda’s existing Halal ecosystem and establish a credible national certification system capable of supporting both domestic and international trade.
Hon. Tanna called for urgent action to close the identified gaps, saying Uganda needs to strengthen the people, infrastructure, resources, branding, incentives and governance required to develop a reliable Halal industry.
She also urged stakeholders to adopt and domesticate internationally recognised Halal protocols to improve the credibility and acceptance of Ugandan products in international markets.
The push comes as Uganda seeks to take advantage of its agricultural and livestock potential to expand exports to markets where Halal certification is an important requirement.
#Halal seen as trade opportunity
Hon. Gen. Mbadi stressed that securing access to international markets should be accompanied by efforts to maintain that access over the long term.
“Accessing a market is one thing; sustaining it is another,” he said.
He called for a comprehensive review of Uganda’s legal framework to ensure that it adequately addresses Halal requirements and provides an effective basis for certification and market access.
The remarks highlight one of the key challenges facing exporters: meeting international standards consistently rather than securing market entry only once.
A robust certification system would help provide assurance to consumers and trading partners that products meet established Halal requirements.
#Mbabazi urges Uganda to act
Rt. Hon. Mbabazi described the Halal initiative as timely, arguing that the sector should be viewed not only from a religious perspective but also as a potential source of trade and investment.
“Halal is not only a Sharia-based religious concept; it is also a business and trade opportunity, and we cannot afford to be left out,” he said.
He pointed to Uganda’s considerable agricultural and livestock resources, saying the country’s production capacity needs to be matched with the knowledge, infrastructure and systems required to access international Halal markets.
The remarks reflect growing recognition of Halal as a commercial market extending beyond religious observance into food production, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other consumer products.
#Uganda already has foundation
Uganda’s Halal certification system is not starting from scratch.
According to information presented during the discussions, the country currently has three Halal certification bodies: the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), Uganda Halal Bureau and Halal Assurance Institute Uganda.
UMSC has particularly been involved in slaughter certification, while other certification institutions have expanded their activities to additional products and services.
Uganda also has 17 Halal standards covering areas including food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
These standards provide a foundation upon which a more comprehensive national system could be developed.
#Role of standards body
H.E. Dr. Ssemuddu said the UMSC played an important role in establishing the foundation for Uganda’s Halal ecosystem.
He said the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) subsequently established Technical Committee UNBS/TC 411 on Halal Integrity.
The committee brings together several stakeholders, including UMSC, Uganda Halal Bureau, Islamic University in Uganda, UNBS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others.
The involvement of multiple institutions is intended to improve coordination and ensure that Halal standards are developed and implemented through a broader national framework.
#Halal and quality assurance
Dr. Ssemuddu described Halal as extending beyond religious compliance to issues of quality, health, safety and responsibility.
“Halal represents faith, quality, health, safety and responsibility. It is also a value proposition,” he said.
The argument presents Halal certification as a potential quality-assurance tool that can strengthen consumer confidence while helping Ugandan businesses meet the requirements of international buyers.
For exporters, credible certification can be particularly important when entering markets where consumers and regulators require assurance that products meet specific Halal standards.
#Targeting Gulf and Middle Eastern markets
Dr. Ssemuddu said Uganda has the potential to meet requirements in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets.
He called for Uganda to pursue an ambitious goal of becoming a leading Halal export hub for East and Central Africa.
Such a strategy would cover both food and non-food sectors, potentially including agricultural products, livestock, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
However, achieving that ambition would require investment in certification infrastructure, technical expertise, standards, market information and regulatory coordination.
#Need for stronger legal framework
Participants emphasised the need for a clear legal and policy framework governing Halal certification.
A comprehensive framework could help define the roles of certification bodies, regulators, producers and other stakeholders.
It could also help address questions relating to accreditation, enforcement, consumer protection and recognition of certificates in foreign markets.
Without effective coordination, differences between certification systems could create uncertainty for exporters and international buyers.
The proposed review of the legal framework is therefore expected to be an important component of efforts to strengthen Uganda’s Halal sector.
#Uganda’s OIC advantage
Uganda also has a strategic advantage arising from its membership of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The country is described as the only OIC member state in the East African Community.
This position potentially gives Uganda an avenue for closer engagement with markets and institutions in countries where Halal standards are widely applied.
Uganda’s membership in international and regional networks could also support efforts to improve recognition of its certification systems.
#Link to SMIIC
UNBS is also a member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), an institution involved in harmonising standards for Islamic markets.
SMIIC brings together 57 countries, providing a platform for cooperation on standards and conformity assessment.
Uganda’s participation gives its standards authorities an opportunity to engage with countries seeking harmonised approaches to Halal-related standards.
Stakeholders argue that this provides Uganda with policy and technical leverage as it seeks to expand its participation in international Halal trade.
#Agriculture and livestock potential
Uganda’s agricultural and livestock sectors could be among the major beneficiaries of an expanded Halal market.
The country has a substantial agricultural production base, while livestock provides raw materials for meat and other products.
However, production alone does not guarantee access to international markets.
Exporters must meet requirements relating to quality, safety, traceability, certification, packaging and other regulatory standards.
A credible national Halal system could therefore complement Uganda’s agricultural production by helping businesses demonstrate compliance with requirements in target markets.
#Beyond meat
Although Halal certification is often associated with meat and slaughtering, the sector covers a much wider range of products.
The 17 standards cited by stakeholders include food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, suggesting opportunities for Ugandan companies beyond the traditional livestock industry.
Pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers, for example, could potentially access new markets if their products and production processes meet applicable Halal requirements.
This broader approach could create opportunities for value addition and diversification within Uganda’s manufacturing sector.
#Building a sustainable export ecosystem
The discussions also point to the need to move beyond certification as an isolated process.
For Uganda to establish itself as a regional Halal hub, stakeholders will need to develop an ecosystem involving producers, certification bodies, laboratories, standards institutions, government agencies, exporters and international buyers.
Training and technical capacity will also be necessary to ensure that businesses understand and consistently comply with Halal requirements.
Investment in infrastructure will be equally important, particularly in areas where certification depends on specialised facilities and processes.
#Pioneers of Uganda’s Halal sector
Rt. Hon. Mbabazi and H.E. Dr. Ssemuddu were recognised for their contribution to the development of Uganda’s Halal ecosystem over more than 15 years.
They were also described as instrumental in a tripartite arrangement involving the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Islamic University in Uganda and Uganda Halal Bureau.
The collaboration between religious, academic and standards institutions has contributed to the development of Uganda’s existing Halal standards and certification structures.
The current push seeks to build on that foundation while addressing gaps that have emerged as international demand and standards continue to evolve.
#Economic implications
If successfully developed, the Halal sector could contribute to Uganda’s export diversification and private-sector growth.
Improved access to international markets could create opportunities for farmers, processors, manufacturers, logistics companies and other businesses involved in the supply chain.
It could also encourage greater value addition to agricultural products before they are exported.
However, stakeholders will need to ensure that certification remains credible and internationally recognised. A system that lacks trust among buyers could undermine the very market opportunities Uganda is seeking to capture.
#Conclusion
Uganda’s renewed push to establish a credible National Halal Certification System reflects an effort to turn the country’s existing agricultural, livestock and manufacturing potential into greater access to international markets.
Government officials and industry stakeholders have identified infrastructure, expertise, resources, branding, incentives, governance and legislation as key areas requiring attention.
With existing certification bodies, national standards and links to international standards institutions already in place, Uganda has a foundation on which to build.
The challenge now is to harmonise the system, strengthen its legal and technical credibility and ensure that Ugandan businesses can consistently meet the requirements of international Halal markets.
For a country seeking to expand exports and increase value addition, stakeholders say Halal should be viewed not only as a religious requirement but also as a potential avenue for trade, investment and economic growth.
