Following the recent circulation of videos on social media alleging the rampant sale of underweight cement, the Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Eng. James N. Kasigwa, has cautioned the public to ensure they purchase cement from certified cement manufacturers to avoid being duped.
“Our investigations confirm that all UNBS certified cement manufacturers comply with the prescribed quantity requirements. The underweight cement cases we identify arise from illegal siphoning and repackaging at some points of sale, not at certified manufacturing facilities” he said.
Mr Kasigwa made the remarks while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre (UMC) in Kampala on Thursday.
Kasigwa noted that where underweight cement is discovered on the market, the issue is usually linked to unauthorized tampering, siphoning, or repackaging during transit, storage, or point-of-sale handling, and not to factory-level non-compliance by certified manufacturers.
“We continue to intensify market surveillance inspections and pre-package control monitoring across the country to eliminate cement siphoning and illegal re-bagging. Anyone found selling underweight or adulterated cement commits a criminal offence and is liable to arrest and prosecution” he said.
Kasigwa further revealed that during the last financial year 2025/2026, UNBS seized more than 880 tons of substandard products worth about UGX 3 Billion, these included food products, cosmetics and construction materials including cement, among others.
“The seizure of these dangerous substandard products saved the health and safety of thousands of consumers who would have been badly affected or injured if they consumed or used these products” he said.
He noted that in the same period, UNBS’s market surveillance team found 3 cement sales outlets in Mukono, Mbale and Nakasongola selling bags of cement that were underweight.
“Investigations revealed that these hardware shops were receiving empty cement bags from construction sites. They would then siphon cement from genuine bags, re-bag and re-seal in the used bags acquired from construction sites” he said.
Kasigwa noted that the warehouses were sealed-off, suspects arrested and are being prosecuted before courts of law for their actions.
Below is the List of Certified Cement Companies and their products As listed by UNBS
Hima Cement Limited
– Multipurpose (CEM IV/B-P 32.5N)
– Powermax (CEM II/A-P 42.5N)
– Supaset (CEM II/B-P 32.5R)
– Minecem (CEM III/B-SR-42.5L)
-Powerplus CEM I 42.5R
-Powerplus CEM I 42.5N
Tororo Cement Limited
– CEM I 42.5N
– CEM IV/B-P 32.5N
– CEM II/A-P 42.5N
– CEM II/B-P 32.5N
National Cement Company Uganda Ltd (Simba Cement)
– Simba Power CEM I 42.5N
-Simba CEM IV/B(P) 32.5R
-Simba CEM II/B-P 32.5N
YBIH Cement Uganda Ltd (Bora Cement)
– Bora Pro CEM I 42.5R
– Bora Pro CEM II/A-P 42.5N
-Bora CEM II/B-P 32.5R
– Bora CEM IV/B 32.5N
Metro Cement Limited
– Farasi CEM II B(P) 32.5N
– Njovu CEM I 42.5N
-Emirate CEM IV/B 32.5N
Old Continent Group (Africa) Ltd
– Alfill White Portland Cement CEM I B(P) 52.5N
