EXHIBIT 99(a)

                                  CERTIFICATION

                       PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

           AS ADOPTED BY SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

                  I, Richard R. Erkeneff, as Chief Executive Officer of United
Industrial Corporation (the "Company") certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350,
as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my
knowledge:

                  (1) the accompanying Form 10-K report for the period ended
December 31, 2002 as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

                  (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents,
in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
the Company.


Dated:  March 28, 2003                          /s/ Richard R. Erkeneff
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Richard R. Erkeneff,
                                                Chief Executive Officer
                                                of the Company

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.