By Spy Uganda
Officials from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) have issued a public warning to all Ugandans to watch out for conmen (Bafere), who are posing as UNBS officials with intent to defraud and rob money from unsuspecting businessmen and women in different parts of the country.
The warning comes after UNBS officials observed an increase in the number of counterfeit products on the market with fake seals and labels, coupled with several complaints from traders about people collecting money from them to give them UNBS accreditation.
As a result of this increasing fraud, UNBS has issued a warning to all Ugandans to be vigilant by looking out for people who claim to be sent by UNBS to inspect their products and or business premises by ensuring such people have proper identification.
The notice, issued by Patricia Ejalu, the Acting Executive Director UNBS, on June 15th, 2020, reads in part thus;
“UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
PUBLIC NOTICE
It has come to our attention that some individuals are masquerading as UNBS staff conducting unauthorized inspections at different business premises and extorting money from the public.
UNBS would like to disassociate its self from such individuals and inform the public That UNBS staff are NOT SUPPOSED to request for money to offer any service and all those doing so are MASQUERADERS.
Any payments for UNBS services are made to the bank, and as such NO PHYSICAL EXCHANGE OF CASH should take place between any UNBS official and a client.
The public is thus urged to ensure the following;
I. For any UNBS inspection, the UNBS official(s) should present a VALID ID, should have travelled in a UNBS branded car, putting on a UNBS uniform.
2. The UNBS official(s) should register their full name, designation and leave their work IDs at the factory entrance security checks, during their stay at the site.
3. After Inspection, the UNBS official(s) should leave an inspection report at the site.
4. The UNBS official SHOULD NOT ask for money to offer any service.
5. In can of any doubt, kindly call our toll free lane 0800133133 and WhatsApp line 0713227580 for more information
About UNBS
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a statutory body responsible for developing, promoting and enforcing standards in protection of public health and safety, and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products.”
