Every supplier on CIS is vetted before they reach you.
Uganda's construction market is full of anonymous listings, stock photos and unverified payment numbers. CIS exists to fix that. Before any supplier is badged Verified by CIS, we complete defined background checks and record the outcome. This page explains exactly what we check — and why buying through CIS is safer than an open marketplace.
The vetting process
Six checks before a supplier is badged
Verification is completed and recorded against an internal VerificationRecord per supplier. A badge only appears on a public profile when the underlying checks were actually completed — we never auto-claim a check simply because an account exists.
1. Business identity & registration
We confirm the supplier is a registered legal entity. We record the URSB (Uganda Registration Services Bureau) registration number and verify the business genuinely exists as a trading company, manufacturer, or retailer — not an anonymous online account.
2. Tax & VAT position
Where applicable we check the supplier's URA (Uganda Revenue Authority) tax position and VAT registration. A supplier that cannot evidence a tax position is not admitted to the CIS marketplace.
3. Contact persons confirmed
The named contact persons representing the business to CIS are confirmed as genuinely connected to that business. This stops impersonators and middlemen hiding behind a legitimate company's name.
4. Payment details matched
Mobile-money and bank payment details are matched to the business credentials before any transaction is routed through CIS. Customers paying through CIS pay CIS — not an unverified third-party number.
5. Premises & dispatch point
We record the supplier's operating location, depot or dispatch point and the districts they can deliver to, so the materials you order can actually reach your site.
6. Ongoing re-verification
Verification is not a one-off stamp. We record a review date for every supplier and re-check when circumstances change. If a supplier cannot be re-confirmed, their verification is suspended — not silently left displayed.
CIS vs open marketplaces
Why a vetted marketplace is safer
On an open classifieds site the only barrier to listing is an email address. CIS replaces that with identity, payment and product checks — so the risk of paying the wrong person for the wrong thing is materially lower.
| What matters | Through CIS | Open marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Who is behind the listing | Registered business, URSB-confirmed, with named verified contacts. | Anyone can create an account. Identity is rarely checked. |
| Payment safety | You pay CIS. Payment details are matched to the verified business. | You pay an unknown mobile-money number. No recourse if it vanishes. |
| Product authenticity | Listings are inspected; products are verified against the authorised supplier source. | Stock photos, wrong specs, and counterfeits are common. |
| After the sale | Order tracking, delivery confirmation, and a defined complaints route. | Once paid, you are on your own. |
| When something goes wrong | Verification can be suspended; the supplier is flagged, not hidden behind a fresh listing. | A bad seller reappears under a new name the next day. |
What verification does and does not do
A CIS Verified badge means our defined background checks were completed and recorded for that supplier. It is an evidence-based trust signal, not a blanket guarantee. CIS verifies marketplace participants before onboarding and provides defined transaction protections for transactions conducted through CIS, subject to our published terms. CIS does not make an absolute guarantee on every transaction, and does not cover direct deals made outside CIS.
We deliberately do not publish aggregate "industry-leading" ratings or unverifiable trust scores. If a check has not been completed, it is not displayed — even if the supplier is otherwise approved.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Verified by CIS" actually mean?
It means CIS has completed defined background checks on the supplier — business identity and registration, tax position, contact persons, payment details, and premises — and recorded the outcome. A verified badge means those checks were completed, not that CIS guarantees every individual transaction.
Is every supplier on CIS verified?
No. Suppliers move through verification before they are badged. Suppliers whose checks are still in progress, or that could not be confirmed, are not displayed with the CIS Verified badge. You can see a supplier's verification status on their profile.
Does CIS guarantee transactions?
CIS verifies marketplace participants before onboarding and provides defined transaction protections for transactions conducted through CIS, subject to our published terms. CIS does not make an absolute guarantee on every transaction, and does not cover direct deals made outside CIS.
How is this different from buying on Jiji, OLX or Facebook?
Open marketplaces let anyone list with no identity or payment checks. CIS confirms the business is registered, that you are paying the right party, and that the listing has been inspected. If a supplier cannot be re-confirmed, their verification is suspended rather than silently left on display.
What happens when a supplier loses verification?
Their verified badge is removed and their verification status is set to suspended or revoked. They can no longer be presented as a CIS Verified supplier while that state holds. Existing records and relationships are preserved, not deleted.
Build with suppliers you can check
Every verified supplier's profile shows their verification status and the checks completed. Browse the directory, or read the full methodology in our Trust & Verification Centre.