Building Regional Capacity: KENAS Delivers ISO/IEC 17020 Assessor Training to UGANAS
In a demonstration of its ongoing commitment to strengthening regional accreditation systems, Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) has supported the Uganda National Accreditation Services (UGANAS) in its capacity-building journey by facilitating a specialized Assessor Training on ISO/IEC 17020:2012, the international standard for inspection bodies.
This engagement is part of a broader effort by KENAS to assist UGANAS in aligning its operations with ISO/IEC 17011, the cornerstone standard for national accreditation bodies. Through such collaboration, the two institutions are not only harmonizing conformity assessment practices but also paving the way for mutual recognition and enhanced trade facilitation across the East African region.
Held in Kampala, Uganda, the intensive training was conducted by Mr. Abraham Wekesa, Manager of Inspection and Verification at KENAS, and Ms. Beryl Mukhwana, Accreditation Officer in the same department. The session focused on demystifying ISO/IEC 17020:2012, covering critical components such as:
- The structure and intent of the standard
- Interpretation of technical requirements
- Assessment techniques and reporting
- Case-based discussions on real-world scenarios
- Handling non-conformities and providing improvement-oriented recommendations
The participants, who included both technical staff and emerging assessors at UGANAS, gained hands-on insights into the accreditation of inspection bodies — a key element in the quality infrastructure that underpins public safety, environmental protection, and trade competitiveness.
Speaking during the training, Mr. Wekesa emphasized the importance of building a pool of competent assessors across the region to ensure that inspection bodies are evaluated to the highest international standards. “The role of inspection bodies in assuring the quality and safety of services and products cannot be overstated,” he said. “By equipping assessors with the right skills, we are collectively strengthening the region’s ability to ensure trust and reliability in our systems.”
Additional Background Details
ISO/IEC 17020:2012 is the international standard that specifies the requirements for the competence of bodies performing inspection and for the impartiality and consistency of their inspection activities. It is applicable to all organizations that perform inspections, regardless of their sector or size.
ISO/IEC 17011:2017, on the other hand, is the standard that outlines the general requirements for accreditation bodies assessing conformity assessment bodies (CABs). For UGANAS to be recognized internationally, alignment with ISO/IEC 17011 is essential.
The collaboration between KENAS and UGANAS also aligns with broader continental objectives under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Pan African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI), which seek to harmonize quality infrastructure systems and foster trade through mutual recognition of accredited services.
This training marks a significant milestone in the East African region’s journey toward building a harmonized and effective accreditation system that meets global best practices.
