PARTICIPATORY GUARANTEE SYSTEMS (PGS) IN UGANDA

Welcome to the National PGS Secretariat

The National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU) serves as the Secretariat of the Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) Council in Uganda.

This platform provides information, resources, application procedures, standards, certification guidance, and updates related to PGS certification in Uganda. PGS is a locally focused quality assurance system built on trust, transparency, participation, shared responsibility, and knowledge exchange.

PGS at a Glance

To promote transparency and strengthen stakeholder confidence, the National PGS Secretariat provides key updates on applications, certified groups, and certified farmers and enterprises.

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Applications Received

Total applications submitted to the National PGS Secretariat.

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PGS Groups Certified

Producer groups, cooperatives, and local market actors certified under PGS.

What is PGS?

What is PGS?

Participatory Guarantee Systems, commonly known as PGS, are locally focused quality assurance systems that certify producers based on active stakeholder participation and shared responsibility.

PGS provides a credible and affordable alternative to third-party organic certification, especially for smallholder farmers, farmer groups, cooperatives, and local market actors.

Through PGS, stakeholders work together to verify that farms, products, and production practices comply with approved organic standards.

Learn More About PGS

Background of PGS

The Participatory Guarantee Systems approach was developed globally to make organic certification more affordable, accessible, and practical for small-scale producers.

In Uganda, PGS was introduced to support smallholder farmers, farmer groups, cooperatives, and local organic markets.

The National PGS Council oversees implementation, integrity, and credibility of the system. NOGAMU serves as the National PGS Secretariat.

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Why PGS?

Why PGS?

Affordable Certification

Lower certification costs compared to third-party certification.

Increased Market Access

Enables farmers to access organic and agroecological markets.

Community Ownership

Stakeholders actively participate in the certification process.

Capacity Building

Promotes learning and continuous improvement.

Consumer Trust

Creates direct relationships between producers and consumers.

Stronger Farmer Organizations

Encourages collective action and empowerment.

Local Market Development

Supports growth of domestic organic markets.

The Process

PGS Certification Process

1

Application

Applicant submits a PGS application form.

2

Documentation Review

Documents are reviewed by the PGS Secretariat.

3

Farm Visit / Peer Review

A peer review team conducts a field assessment.

4

Review by PGS Committee

The committee reviews findings and recommendations.

5

Certification Decision

Certification approval or corrective actions are issued.

6

Annual Renewal

Certified operators undergo periodic reviews and renewals.

Requirements

Requirements for PGS Certification

  • Adhere to approved organic standards.
  • Maintain production records.
  • Allow peer review visits.
  • Participate in PGS activities.
  • Implement corrective actions where necessary.
  • Maintain transparency throughout production processes.
View Full Requirements
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PGS Documents

No PGS documents are available for download yet. Please check back soon.

Eligibility

Who Can Apply?

  • Individual Farmers
  • Farmer Groups
  • Cooperatives
  • Processors
  • Local Market Actors
  • Organic Enterprises
  • Agroecological Groups
  • Community Organizations

Ready to get started?

Fill in the PGS application form with your group details, production information, and contact persons. Our Secretariat will review your submission and guide you through documentation review, farm visit, and committee review.

All new applications are received as pending and reviewed by the National PGS Secretariat before any certification decision is made.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. PGS is a recognized organic quality assurance approach used internationally and overseen locally in Uganda by the National PGS Council, with NOGAMU serving as the Secretariat.

Individual farmers, farmer groups, cooperatives, processors, local market actors, organic enterprises, agroecological groups, and community organizations can all apply.

PGS is designed to be significantly more affordable than third-party certification. Contact the National PGS Secretariat for current fee guidance specific to your group.

Timelines vary depending on documentation completeness and peer review scheduling, typically spanning application review, a farm visit, and committee review before a decision is issued.

PGS is best suited to local and regional markets. For export markets that require formal certification, third-party certification is generally the appropriate pathway.

The PGS Committee issues corrective actions with a timeline for compliance. Certification decisions follow once the required corrective actions have been addressed.
Get In Touch

Feedback, Complaints & Appeals

The National PGS Council welcomes feedback, complaints, and appeals to continuously improve the integrity, transparency, and credibility of the PGS system.

  • pgs@nogamu.org
  • +256 787 409 602

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