Our History

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives kick started the establishment of a national accreditation service by designating a National Accreditation Focal Point (NAFP) in 2010 with overall objective to develop, establish and promote a national accreditation system in Uganda. 

Government approved the National Accreditation Policy in 2014 and Accreditation Services Act was assented by H. E the President in 2021. The Act provides the legal mandate to establish Uganda National Accreditation Service (UGANAS) as the sole agency of the Government of Uganda to provide accreditation. UGANAS was incorporated in as a legal entity registered at Uganda Registration Services Bureau.

UGANAS’s activities are subject to the requirements of the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act, the Procurement Regulations, the Financial Administration and Audit Act and the Companies Act of Uganda.

New ground rules of trade, established through various World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, promote free movement of goods and require that the reliability, safety and quality of products be proven through transparent and reliable conformity assessment systems(testing/calibration laboratories,medical testing/Diagnostic laboratories, Certification and Inspection bodies) thus eliminating technical barriers to trade and to protect consumers and environment. In addition, these new global rules require that governments implement conformity assessment systems that will ensure that the various agreements and technical requirements are met.

UGANAS is part of the National Quality Infrastructure besides, Standardization, Metrology and conformity assessment services. UGANAS as an accreditation body, is responsible for ensuring that accredited bodies are competent to carry out the work they undertake.