“Standards enabling Intra-Africa trade under the AfCFTA — One Certificate Working for You”
Hosted by the Government of the Republic of Uganda through the Uganda Bureau of Standards (UNBS), ARSO Week 2026 brings together Member States, experts, government officials, and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond for a landmark week of standardisation, trade, and continental cooperation.
“Standards enabling Intra-Africa trade under the AfCFTA — One Certificate Working for You”
Arrivals: Sunday 14 June 2026. Departures: Saturday 20 June. Visa and logistics facilitated by UNBS/ARSO Secretariat.
Uganda Bureau of Standards (UNBS) on behalf of the Government of Uganda, in partnership with ARSO Central Secretariat, Nairobi, Kenya.
Running throughout 15–19 June. Exhibitions, sales and business discussions by Uganda SMEs and Enterprises with the ARSO Central Secretariat Booth. Official launch by the Guest of Honour during the Opening Ceremony.
Select a day to view the full programme. All sessions at the Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.
| Time | Session | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00–10:30 |
17th ARSO Champions Meeting
Champion Members: Zambia (Chair), South Africa (Vice-Chair), Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and UNECA. |
Champion Members Only |
| 11:00–12:00 |
Session 3 – ISO-ARSO Kigali Agreement Implementation Roadmaps
Signed on 9th October 2025. Moderator, Key Presenter, Discussants/Resource Persons to be updated. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 12:00–13:00 |
ARSO Strategic Plan 2027–2032
Review of the proposed Strategic Mission, Vision, Goals, Objectives and Activities. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 13:00–14:00 |
Lunch Break
|
Break |
| 14:00–15:00 |
74th ARSO Council Meetings – Plenary Opening (incl. GSP and FRAC)
Council Members: Burkina Faso (Vice President), Cameroon (Treasurer), Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya. Chaired by the President. |
Council Members Only |
| 14:00–15:00 |
ISO Digitalization Session
Exact title to be confirmed. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 14:00–17:30 |
ARSO Technical Committees Meeting (Day 1)
TC Experts and Resource Persons only. Specific TCs and Experts to be updated. |
TC Experts Only |
| 15:00–16:00 |
74th ARSO Council Meetings – GSP Session
GSP Council Members only. |
GSP Council Members Only |
| 16:00–17:30 |
74th ARSO Council Meetings – FRAC Session
FRAC Council Members only. |
FRAC Council Members Only |
| Time | Session | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00–10:30 |
Joint ARSO–INTERTEK Event on Cosmetology and Conformity Assessment
Standardisation and Conformity Assessment Programmes. Moderator, Key Presenter, Discussants/Resource Persons to be updated. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 11:00–17:30 |
ARSO Technical Committees Meeting (Day 2)
Specific TCs and Experts to be updated. |
TC Experts Only |
| 14:00–17:30 |
ARSO Workshop on Textiles and Leather
Moderator, Key Presenter, Discussants/Resource Persons to be updated. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 19:00–20:00 |
Welcoming Cocktail
Speeches and Recognition Awards. Refreshments provided. All members and Stakeholders. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| Time | Session | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00–10:30 |
74th ARSO Council Meetings – GSP Session (Day 3)
GSP Council Members only. |
GSP Council Members Only |
| 08:00–10:30 |
74th ARSO Council Meetings – FRAC Session (Day 3)
FRAC Council Members only. |
FRAC Council Members Only |
| 08:00–17:30 |
ARSO Technical Committees Meeting (Day 3)
TC Experts and Resource Persons only. |
TC Experts Only |
| 11:00–13:00 |
74th ARSO Council Meetings – Plenary Closing (incl. GSP and FRAC)
All Council Members. Chaired by the President. Botswana Officials/President's Office. |
Council Members Only |
| 14:00–17:30 |
Workshop by Enterprise Singapore (E-SG)
Singapore-Africa Trade and quality infrastructure: Food Safety / Cold Chain and Cybersecurity. Proposed speakers: Experts from Singapore standardization programme, EnterpriseSG and SCE. Exact title to be confirmed. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| Time | Session | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00–10:30 |
World Bank Seminar – World Development Report 2025 "Standards for Development"
All members and Stakeholders. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 11:00–12:00 |
Official Opening Ceremony of the 32nd ARSO GA Events / ARSO Week 2026
Speakers list to be updated. Welcoming Remarks from UNBS, ARSO SG, AU, AfCFTA, Uganda Government Official. MoU signing. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 12:00–13:00 |
High-Level Panel Discussion – "Standards enabling Intra-Africa trade under the AfCFTA: One Certificate Working for You"
Moderator: Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana. Discussants: ARSO President, AUC, AfCFTA, UNECA, Uganda Minister, ISO SG, World Bank, AfDB/Afreximbank. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 14:00–17:30 |
32nd ARSO General Assembly Meeting
Based on GA normal agenda. All members and Stakeholders. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 19:00–21:00 |
Gala Dinner
Speeches and Recognition Awards. Recognition for Essay Competition, Made in Africa Expo, Best TCs, ARSO Fund contributors. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| Time | Session | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00–10:30 |
African Day of Standardisation – Session 1: Agro Processing
Moderator, Key Presenter, Discussants/Resource Persons to be updated. All members and Stakeholders. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 11:00–17:30 |
Industrial Visits / Tourism Excursion
UNBS to update on venue and logistics. All members and Stakeholders. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 14:00–15:00 |
African Day of Standardisation – Session 2: ARSO Conformity Assessment Programme (ARSO ACAP)
Moderator, Key Presenter, Discussants/Resource Persons to be updated. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 14:00–17:30 |
32nd ARSO General Assembly Meeting (Continued – Day 5)
Based on GA normal agenda. All members and Stakeholders. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| 15:00–16:00 |
African Day of Standardisation – Session 3: Eco Mark Africa Certification and Voluntary Sustainable Standards (VSS)
Moderator, Key Presenter, Discussants/Resource Persons to be updated. |
All Members & Stakeholders |
| Day & Time | Event | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 14 Jun 2026 All Day |
Delegates Arrival Day Visa and pick-up logistics facilitated by UNBS/ARSO Central Secretariat. |
All Delegates |
| Tue 16 Jun 2026 19:00–20:00 |
Welcoming Cocktail Speeches and Refreshments. All members and Stakeholders. |
All Members |
| Thu 18 Jun 2026 19:00–21:00 |
Gala Dinner — Speeches & Recognition Awards
|
All Members |
| Mon–Fri 15–19 Jun 2026 |
Made in Africa Expo
Exhibitions, sales and business discussions by Uganda SMEs and Enterprises, and ARSO Central Secretariat Booth. The Guest of Honour will officially launch the Expo during the Opening Ceremony. All delegates encouraged to visit and engage exhibitors.
|
All Delegates |
| Sat 20 Jun 2026 All Day |
Delegates Departure Travel logistics facilitated by UNBS and ARSO Central Secretariat. |
All Delegates |
The 32nd ARSO GA brings together global leaders in standardisation, trade, and sustainable development from across Africa and beyond.
All ARSO Week 2026 events will be held at the world-class Speke Resort Munyonyo on the shores of Lake Victoria, Kampala, Uganda.
Speke Resort Munyonyo is Uganda’s premier international conference resort, offering world-class facilities, accommodation, and hospitality on the scenic shores of Lake Victoria — ideally positioned for an event of this continental stature.
Most visitors to Uganda require a visa. Review Uganda’s current visa policy to plan your travel to Kampala for the 32nd ARSO GA in June 2026.
Citizens of the following countries do NOT need a visa to enter Uganda for visits up to 3 months:
*Mozambique visa exemption signed September 2024 — pending ratification. Verify current status before travel.
If your country is not listed as visa-free, apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Uganda.
A 90-day East African Tourist Visa (USD 100) is available on arrival, valid for Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda. This visa must first be used in the country that issued it, allowing multiple entries across the three countries within 90 days.
Note: Somalia nationals must hold a biometric passport to enter or transit Uganda. Entry and transit is refused without a biometric passport.
Join delegates from across Africa and beyond at the Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala for a landmark week of standardisation, trade facilitation, and continental cooperation.
Contact: info@arso-oran.org | +254 20 331 1608 (ARSO) | +256 417 441 062 (UNBS)