The second edition of the East African Community (EAC) Regional Quality Awards was held on 5th December in Kampala, Uganda, recognizing companies across the region for their outstanding commitment to quality standards.
The ceremony highlighted the importance of quality practices in fostering business growth and contributing to sustainable development within East Africa.
The EAC Regional Quality Awards aim to promote a quality culture across East African businesses and to enhance the competitiveness of regional enterprises in the global marketplace. The awards celebrated companies that had previously emerged as winners in national quality competitions across the EAC member states: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In his remarks, the guest of honour, Hon. Mwebesa Francis, Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, emphasized the importance of supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as key drivers of economic growth and job creation, particularly for East Africa’s youthful population.
“We should be deliberate as the EAC region on boosting the competitiveness of MSMEs to thrive in the marketplace by supporting them to implement quality practices,” said Hon. Mwebesa. “This will enable us to tap into the AfCFTA continental market valued at a GDP of US$2.9 trillion, with a consumer base of over 1.4 billion people.”
The event was organized by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and hosted by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). The awards are part of the second phase of the European Union (EU)-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II), which is funded by the EU.
EAC Deputy Secretary General for Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, Ms. Annette Mutaawe Ssemuwemba, highlighted the vital role of quality in driving regional competitiveness. “Quality lies at the heart of competitiveness,” she said. “This ceremony is a testament to the diversity and resilience of our community, and we are grateful to the European Union for their continued support of the MARKUP II program. With a collective commitment to a culture of quality, we can unlock the full potential of our region.”
UNBS Executive Director, Eng. James Kasigwa, noted that Uganda is actively supporting MSMEs to meet international standards as part of the country’s transition from National Development Plan III to NDP IV. “Our new value proposition for growing quality MSMEs will help enhance the competitiveness of their products in both local and international markets,” Eng. Kasigwa explained. “By supporting MSMEs, we contribute to economic growth and create more employment opportunities for the region.”
Mr. Adrian Njau, Executive Director of the East African Business Council (EABC), emphasized that the EAC Quality Awards represent a shared vision of fostering a robust quality culture across the region. “Studies by EABC show that adherence to quality standards results in increased intra-EAC trade, reduced border clearance time, and greater global competitiveness,” he said. “These awards offer MSMEs an invaluable opportunity to showcase their commitment to quality and innovation.”
The awards recognize companies in several categories, including Company of the Year, Service Company of the Year, and Product of the Year, with distinctions given to both MSMEs and Large Enterprises (LEs).
Winners and runners-up of the EAC Regional Quality Awards 2024 include:
- EAC Company of the Year – SME
Winner: CAPS Limited – Tanzania
Runner-up: ISHYO Foods – Rwanda - EAC Company of the Year – LE
Winner: Said Salim Bakhresa Company Ltd. – Tanzania
Runner-up: Brookside Dairies Ltd – Kenya - EAC Product of the Year – SME
Winner: PVC Insulated Non-Armoured Cable Flame Retardant & Anti-Rodent – ASL Wires & Cables – Kenya
Runner-up: ZIMA Pumpkin Extra Virgin Oil – ZIMA Health – Rwanda - EAC Product of the Year – LE
Winner: Dairy Best UHT Milk – Brookside Dairies – Kenya
Runner-up: Bwana Sukari (Brown Sugar) – Kilombero Sugar Ltd – Tanzania - EAC Service Company of the Year – SME
Winner: CAPS Limited – Tanzania
Runner-up: Izere Services & Trading Co. Ltd – Rwanda - EAC Service Company of the Year – LE
Winner: University of Embu (UoEm) – Kenya
Runner-up: Prime Insurance Limited – Rwanda
The EAC Regional Quality Awards continue to serve as a platform to celebrate excellence in quality standards, offering a significant opportunity for businesses in East Africa to highlight their achievements and contribute to regional economic integration.