The East Africa Community (EAC) Regional Quality Awards 2024 has celebrated the exceptional achievements of East Africa’s top enterprises in standardization and quality management.
Hosted by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), the awards recognized the outstanding contributions of both Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Large Enterprises (LEs) towards improving quality practices in the East African region.
During the awards ceremony held on Thursday, December 5, 2024, among the top honorees were Thomas and Company, which took home the title of “Company of the Year” in the MSME category, and Tembo Steel, which was recognized as the “Company of the Year” in the Large Enterprise category.
The UNBS Executive Director, Eng. James Kasigwa, praised the awardees for their dedication to quality.
“These companies have not only implemented effective quality management systems but have also fostered a culture of continuous improvement, which is crucial for long-term business success,” he said.
Kasigwa highlighted that standardization contributes nearly a quarter of Uganda’s GDP, underscoring the economic importance of quality management across all sectors.
Tembo Steel, which recently received the Quality Excellence Award for Best Steel & Rolling Manufacturing Company in East Africa at the 2024/25 East Africa Brand Quality Awards from the Uganda Manufacturers Association, is known for its high-quality steel products, which have consistently demonstrated excellence in the manufacturing of hot and cold rolled profiles and customer satisfaction.
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However, Thomas and Company, a thriving MSME, has shown that even smaller businesses can achieve top-tier quality management practices, becoming a role model for other startups and MSMEs in Uganda. The company first started supplying fresh fruits and vegetables in the year 2000 to the United Nations Mission in Congo and Sudan.
Over the years, due to the company’s dedicated and committed services, it was asked to supply their warehouses in Bunia, Beni, Aru, Mahagi, Bukavu, and Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo), Juba, and Wau (Southern Sudan).
The Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, commended the winners and reiterated the need for greater support for MSMEs.
“We must continue to boost the competitiveness of MSMEs by promoting quality practices. These businesses are the backbone of our economy and job creation,” he said.
The EAC Regional Quality Awards not only spotlighted the best-performing companies but also emphasized the need for regional collaboration in improving business standards.
The awards ceremony 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 event is supported through the second phase of the European Union (EU)-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II), funded by the European Union.
