The police, in collaboration with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), have seized more than 500 bags of counterfeit cement in a major crackdown on cement adulteration in Luwero town.
According to Savannah regional police spokesperson Sam Twiineamazima, the fake cement was being illegally mixed and repackaged at a residence belonging to Daudah Mutesasira in Kalongo Zone.
The operation targeted hardware shops along Kasiiso Road in Luwero town council, where the counterfeit product was being distributed. Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement officers raided the premises and found Ronald Onyango actively mixing stone dust with genuine cement before repackaging it into counterfeit bags branded with popular company names such as Hima and Tororo Cement.
“He had machines set up to produce and rebrand the fake cement,” said Twiineamazima. “Aside from adulteration, he was underfilling the bags each weighing less than the standard 50 kilograms and sealing them with fake UNBS Q-mark stickers.”
Both Onyango and Mutesasira were arrested and are currently being held at Luwero Central police station. During the operation, authorities recovered over 500 ready-for-sale bags of fake cement, more than 1,000 bags of stone dust intended for future production, and over 1 million counterfeit UNBS Q-mark seals.
UNBS surveillance officer Sarah Nantongo confirmed the items had been confiscated and transported to secure storage in Kampala. She said both suspects would be arraigned before the Standards, Utilities, and Wildlife Court in Kampala to face charges of counterfeiting, forgery of certification seals, and breaching weight standards.
Nantongo added that the seized counterfeit cement would be sent to Luwero Industries Limited in Nakasongola district for destruction, following further analysis and conclusion of court proceedings.
Charity Komujuni, marketing officer at Tororo Cement, expressed concern over the incident, pledging the company’s support to UNBS and police in pursuing prosecution. She also urged consumers to only buy cement from verified and licensed dealers.
“The use of adulterated cement puts lives at risk and can lead to structural failures or building collapses,” Komujuni warned.
This operation follows a similar raid on March 25, 2025, in Tororo district, where the Internal Security Organization (ISO) and police uncovered a large-scale cement counterfeiting ring.
Authorities seized over 700 bags of fake cement and arrested five suspects linked to the illegal trade. Investigations revealed that the Tororo operation involved diluting 50 kilograms of genuine cement with up to 500 kilograms of fine dust, distributing the fake product across Northern, Central Uganda, and even into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Intelligence gathered from that raid led to the bust in Luwero. Authorities have vowed to continue cracking down on cement fraud, warning that the illegal trade undermines public safety and the credibility of Uganda’s construction sector. Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for radio or TV, or something more tailored for social media.
Source: URN
