Question 1

How do I verify if a product is genuinely halal-certified?

Accepted Answer

Use the Verify tool on this site: enter the certificate number printed on the pack (or scan its QR code) and you will see the certificate's status — valid, expiring soon, expired, revoked or not found — along with the product and its scope. You can also browse the full registry of certified products.

Question 2

What does the UHB seal on packaging mean?

Accepted Answer

It means the product, its ingredients and the premises that make it have been audited by the Uganda Halal Bureau against OIC/SMIIC and national halal standards, and that a valid certificate has been issued. The mark is the bureau's assurance that the product is permissible (halal) and clean.

Question 3

Can I report a product I suspect is falsely labelled halal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Contact the bureau by phone or email (see the Contact page) with the product name, brand and where you saw it. Misuse of the UHB Quality Mark is taken seriously and investigated.

Question 4

Are restaurants and food outlets certified too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Alongside manufacturers and abattoirs, the bureau certifies food-service premises such as hotels and restaurants under a dedicated Food Service scheme.

Question 5

Who is eligible to apply for halal certification?

Accepted Answer

Any business that produces, processes, handles or serves food or related products in Uganda can apply — manufacturers, butcheries and abattoirs, and food-service premises such as hotels and restaurants.

Question 6

Do I need to be a Muslim-owned business to be certified?

Accepted Answer

No. The business being certified does not need to be Muslim-owned. (National standard US 910 requires the certification body itself to be Muslim-owned, but this does not apply to applicants.)

Question 7

How long does the certification process typically take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the completeness of your application and your audit readiness, but a decision typically issues within four to eight weeks of a complete submission.

Question 8

What does the bureau charge for certification?

Accepted Answer

An application fee of UGX 50,000 is paid to the bureau's Tropical Bank account when you submit. Audit and certification fees depend on the scheme and the scale of the operation — full details are on the Certification page.

Question 9

Can I certify multiple products under one application?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Related product lines made at the same premises can be covered under a single application; the required-documents matrix on the Certification page shows exactly what to provide.

Question 10

What are the eight stages of the certification process?

Accepted Answer

In outline: application, document review, fee payment, audit planning, the on-site audit, technical and Shari'ah review, the certification decision, and issue of the UHB Quality Mark — followed by surveillance and renewal. The Certification page narrates each step with its responsibilities and outputs.

Question 11

What documents are required at application?

Accepted Answer

Typically a completed application form, business registration, product and ingredient details with supplier declarations, a process flow and premises information. The exact set depends on your scheme — use the required-documents matrix on the Certification page.

Question 12

Are inspections announced or unannounced?

Accepted Answer

Initial certification audits are scheduled with the applicant. The bureau may also carry out surveillance visits during the validity period to confirm continued compliance.

Question 13

What happens if my application is rejected?

Accepted Answer

You will receive the reasons for the decision. You can address the gaps identified and re-submit; the bureau's team can advise on what is needed to meet the standard.

Question 14

How does renewal differ from a first-time application?

Accepted Answer

Renewal builds on your existing certification record, so it focuses on confirming continued compliance rather than starting over. Begin before your certificate expires to avoid a lapse — see the Certification page for renewal details.

Question 15

Where do I find the certificate number on a product?

Accepted Answer

It is printed alongside the UHB Quality Mark on the packaging, or displayed at certified premises. Enter it on the Verify page, or scan the QR code where one is provided.

Question 16

What does an "expiring soon" status mean?

Accepted Answer

The certificate is still valid but close to its expiry date. The product remains certified until expiry; the producer should begin renewal so certification does not lapse.

Question 17

Why might a certificate be revoked?

Accepted Answer

A certificate can be revoked if a producer no longer meets the halal standard — for example after a failed surveillance audit, a material change in ingredients or process, or misuse of the mark. A revoked certificate is shown clearly on the Verify page.

Question 18

How fresh is the data shown in the registry?

Accepted Answer

The registry reflects the bureau's certification records, and each lookup shows the current status of that certificate — valid, expiring soon, expired, revoked or not found.

Question 19

Who governs the bureau and how are decisions made?

Accepted Answer

A Board of Directors sets strategy and policy, the General Manager runs day-to-day operations, and an independent Shari'ah Advisory Board provides religious oversight. Certification decisions involve the Head of Halal Certification, the Halal Certification Committee and the technical and Shari'ah teams.

Question 20

What standards does the bureau apply?

Accepted Answer

The bureau works to OIC/SMIIC standards and Uganda's national halal standards (US 909, 910 and 911), with its structure built to OIC/SMIIC 2 and ISO/IEC 17065.

Question 21

Is the bureau recognised internationally?

Accepted Answer

Yes. UHB is an Associate Member of the World Halal Council and is recognised by JAKIM Malaysia as a Foreign Halal Certification Body, alongside recognition from Ugandan ministries and foreign missions. Further accreditations (EIAC, GAK) are being pursued.

Question 22

How is the bureau funded?

Accepted Answer

The bureau is an independent, self-sustaining body, funded chiefly through the application, audit and certification fees for the services it provides.

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