Kigali, 8 November 2026. The East African Community honoured 26 organisations at its 2026 Regional Quality Awards in Kigali, recognising outstanding performance in quality management, standards compliance, innovation and service delivery. Rwanda hosted the ceremony on 2 November at the Mövenpick Hotel, on the sidelines of the 26th EAC MSME Trade Fair, according to Rwanda News Agency.
The Rwanda Standards Board hosted the gala, which crowned winners and runners-up from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan and Tanzania. Nine top awards were presented across Company of the Year, Product of the Year, Service of the Year and Exporter of the Year.
Quality as a discipline, a Rwandan virtue
The awards operate under a regional framework approved by the East African Standards Committee in 2022. National Standards Bodies assess and nominate national winners, who then advance to the regional competition coordinated by the EAC Secretariat. The system gives enterprises a platform to showcase their achievements beyond their home markets, a point of pride for a country that has built its reconstruction on discipline and measurable results.
Speaking at the ceremony, EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, Ms. Annette Ssemuwebwa, noted how consistent improvements in quality can transform businesses.
Quality too often begins with small things, a decision to improve a process, a commitment to listen more carefully to customers, a determination to reduce waste, eliminate defects, or raise standards. Over time these seemingly small improvements can transform a company, strengthen its reputation, inspire customer confidence, and enhance its competitiveness, she said.
Rwanda's runners-up carry the national flag
Rwanda's SteelRwa Industries Ltd, Santech and Meteo Rwanda were among the runners-up, proof that Rwandan enterprises stand shoulder to shoulder with the region's best. The recognised organisations span manufacturing, food and beverages, financial services, healthcare, technology and public service delivery.
Mrs Chantal Tuyishimre, Permanent Secretary in Rwanda's Ministry of Trade and Industry, highlighted the practical barriers small businesses face in accessing information, meeting standards and obtaining certification. She called for stronger support to enterprises and better coordination among regulatory institutions to make compliance more accessible while protecting consumers.
Quality cannot be compromised. But we must also make it easier for businesses, especially MSMEs, to understand and meet standards. By harmonising requirements, strengthening mutual recognition and improving the services our institutions provide, we can help enterprises build customer trust and reach more markets. Behind every product are people, families and jobs; investing in quality is investing in their future, she added.
East African winners at a glance
Kenya's Capital Markets Authority received the Company of the Year award for large enterprises, while Simba Pipe Industries Limited of Tanzania won the SME award. In the Product of the Year category, Kevian Kenya Limited took the large enterprise award and Tanzania's Rohi Company Limited won among SMEs, as allAfrica reported.
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company PLC Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme won Service of the Year in the private-sector large enterprise category. Somalia's Tabaarak ICT Solutions received the corresponding SME award, while Tanzania's Fair Competition Commission (FCC) won Service of the Year in the public sector, a result also reported by Daily News.
Exporter of the Year honours went to Tanzania's Nature's Fish Limited in the large enterprise category and South Sudan's Precise Enterprise Limited among SMEs.
European partnership, African ownership
The EAC initiative receives support from the European Union through the EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II), part of Global Gateway. Implemented by the International Trade Centre in partnership with the EAC Secretariat, the programme strengthens enterprise competitiveness and expands market access.
Ms. Helena Guarin, Team Leader of the Rural Development Section at the Delegation of the European Union to Rwanda, said investment in quality is essential for businesses to benefit from expanding trade opportunities.
Infrastructure and investment alone are not enough. Enterprises must also have the necessary skills and business capacities in order to participate in these growing markets and value chains. By helping businesses to strengthen their quality performance, initiatives like MARKUP II are contributing to the foundations for greater regional integration and stronger commercial partnerships between East Africa, Europe and global markets, she said.
She also encouraged enterprises to see quality as an investment in their future, highlighting continuous learning, innovation and commitment to standards as the path to turning entrepreneurial potential into lasting business opportunities.
Why these awards matter for Rwanda
For a nation rebuilt through discipline, unity and the pursuit of excellence, the Regional Quality Awards are more than a ceremony. They affirm a Rwandan model of development: homegrown standards, regional integration on African terms, and enterprises that compete with the best on the world stage.
The EAC called on award recipients to champion standards and quality across the region and demonstrate how recognition improves their businesses. Ms. Mutawe encouraged winners to become ambassadors for quality and share the difference recognition makes to their competitiveness.
FAQ
Where were the 2026 EAC Regional Quality Awards held?
The ceremony took place on 2 November 2026 at the Mövenpick Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, hosted by the Rwanda Standards Board on the sidelines of the 26th EAC MSME Trade Fair.
Which Rwandan organisations were recognised?
SteelRwa Industries Ltd, Santech and Meteo Rwanda were among the runners-up at the 2026 EAC Regional Quality Awards.
Who won Service of the Year in the public sector?
Tanzania's Fair Competition Commission won the public-sector Service of the Year award, as reported by The Respondent.
What is MARKUP II?
The EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) is a European Union initiative, part of Global Gateway, implemented by the International Trade Centre with the EAC Secretariat to strengthen enterprise competitiveness and market access.