The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has arrested four people and seized more than 400 cartons of counterfeit and substandard toilet tissue during an enforcement operation in Kampala’s Kikuubo business district.
The raid also led to the recovery of thousands of fake packaging materials believed to have been used to rebrand unlabelled toilet tissue and sell it as well-known products.
The operation targeted premises at Tesco Plastic Plaza and Justine Arcade along Kikuubo Lane after UNBS received intelligence from members of the public and complaints from manufacturers of genuine toilet tissue brands.
According to Sarah Natongo, a Surveillance Officer at UNBS, the suspects allegedly sourced unlabelled toilet tissue from unknown suppliers before repackaging it in counterfeit wrappers designed to imitate recognised brands.
She said the fake products were then distributed to unsuspecting consumers as genuine merchandise.
The operation began with the arrest of a suspected sales agent, Waluwu Idi, who was intercepted while allegedly delivering the counterfeit toilet tissue to Kooki Plaza on Kampala Road.
His arrest led investigators to the suspected storage and repackaging sites in Kikuubo, where additional counterfeit products and packaging materials were recovered.
UNBS warned that the illegal trade not only undermines legitimate businesses but also puts consumers at risk.
Natongo explained that the toilet tissue is allegedly repackaged in unhygienic environments, increasing the likelihood of contamination before the products reach the market.
She urged the public to verify that consumer products bear the official UNBS Quality Mark before making a purchase.
The four suspects remain in custody as investigations continue to establish the origin of the unlabelled toilet tissue and identify other individuals involved in the counterfeit operation.
