By Kabuye Ronald
Goodwill Ceramic Company Limited has dismissed allegations circulating on social media questioning the quality and regulatory compliance of its products, describing the claims as false and defamatory.
Speaking at a press conference, the company’s Administrative Manager, David Mawejje, said Goodwill Ceramic decided to address the allegations and present what it described as the facts to customers, business partners and other stakeholders.
Mawejje said all Goodwill Ceramic products have official certification from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
He described claims that the company had failed to meet UNBS certification requirements as fabricated and malicious.
“The company is fully compliant and can withstand any official inspection and market verification,” Mawejje said.
He also denied claims that UNBS or the Ministry of Health had declared Goodwill Ceramic products non-compliant, saying the company viewed such allegations as an attempt to mislead the public by invoking the names of government institutions.
According to Mawejje, the controversy could be linked to what he described as unfair competition from unnamed market players.
He alleged that some competitors had resorted to misinformation after failing to compete with Goodwill Ceramic on product quality, pricing and service.
The company, however, did not identify the individuals or businesses it suspects of being behind the alleged campaign.
Mawejje said the matter had been reported to police and that investigations were underway to establish the source of the information and identify those responsible.
He said the company would pursue legal action against individuals found to have fabricated or disseminated false information about its products or falsely attributed statements to government agencies.
Mawejje said Goodwill Ceramic would continue to prioritise production safety, regulatory compliance, employee welfare and corporate social responsibility.
He appealed to the government, consumers, business partners and the media to verify information before publishing or sharing allegations concerning the company.
He said protecting legitimate local manufacturers was important to Uganda’s efforts to promote domestic production, employment, tax revenue and industrialisation.
Goodwill Ceramic said it remains committed to manufacturing tiles locally and expanding its contribution to Uganda’s industrial sector.
The company is located in Kapeka Town, Nakaseke District, within the Liao-Shen Industrial Park. It was registered in 2017 and began production in 2018, with its commissioning ceremony presided over by President Yoweri Museveni.
Mawejje said the company was established as part of Uganda’s industrialisation drive, with a mission of reducing the country’s dependence on imported tiles and promoting locally manufactured products.
He said more than 90 per cent of the company’s raw materials are sourced locally, adding that Goodwill Ceramic products are sold across Uganda and exported to neighbouring countries, including South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Mawejje, the company directly employs more than 1,300 Ugandans, while another 2,000 people benefit indirectly through activities linked to production, quality control, sales and administration.
He added that a Chinese technical team provides technical support and training to Ugandan workers.
Mawejje also rejected claims that Goodwill Ceramic is an agent of an overseas brand, insisting that the company is a Uganda-registered, Uganda-based manufacturing and taxpaying business.
Meanwhile, as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Goodwill Ceramic Company Limited has renovated Kapeeka Primary School after parts of the school’s structures were damaged by strong winds.
The company restructured, renovated and roofed the affected buildings before painting and tiling the facilities to improve the learning environment for pupils.
