Three major bakeries in Arua town have been closed for failure to meet the minimum required standards by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards-UNBS.
The bakeries are Quality bakery located at Arua primary, Nyange and Desire bakeries both located at Obolokufuku cell in Arua municipality.
The bakeries were closed on Friday, by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards market surveillance inspection team.
David Kayhul, the bureau's head of market surveillance Department says the conditions of operation at the closed bakeries were alarming, and it would be illogical to allow them produce food for human consumption.
In addition to the poor hygiene, the surveillance team found out that some bakeries are built out of papyrus reeds and covered with polythene bags.
The team also unearthed expired items at some supermarkets. cosmetics containing mercury, which exposes skin to cancer, were also impounded.
The inspection team, also found that there has been rampant sale of fake electrical cables that lack protective shutters hence posing high risks to public especially children.
Meanwhile, bakery owners and workers have been left stranded.
According to one of the managers, Mugala Innocent the operation is going to affect them greatly because they have paid license to Arua municipal. He wondered whether the UNBS operation is aimed at causing unemployment to workers in such bakeries. Mugala appeals to UNBS to give them time to improve on the conditions at the bakeries instead of closing them permanently.
James Okello a resident of Awindiri ward in Arua municipality says some of the bakeries produce poor quality breads and yet they are advertised in the local FM radio stations as the best.
The unsuspecting consumers argue that they do not realize value for money from the products.
