MP questions suspension of UNBS executive director Kasigwa

________________

Richard Gafabusa, the Member of Parliament for Bwamba County (NRM), has asked the government to explain the decision to send the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) executive director, Eng. James Kasigwa, on one month’s leave to pave the way for investigations into alleged mismanagement.

Raising a matter of national importance, Gafabusa expressed concern over what he termed “the deteriorating state of affairs at UNBS.”

“I am concerned that issues of governance and corruption continue to cripple UNBS. The media has been awash with conflicting reports, both positive and negative, about the bureau,” Gafabusa told Parliament.

He called for the suspension of the directive sending Kasigwa on leave, pending investigations by Parliament’s Committee on Trade and Industry. However, ministers from the trade docket were not present in the House to respond to his concerns.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who chaired the sitting on October 20, 2025, directed the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, to provide legal guidance on the suspension. Tayebwa said he would advise Parliament on the matter after consulting with the Attorney General.

Background

In a letter dated October 7, 2025, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, directed Eng. Kasigwa to proceed on annual leave effective October 15, 2025.

Mwebesa appointed Patricia Bageine Ejalu to serve as acting executive director during Kasigwa’s absence.

The minister stated in the letter that he had requested the UNBS Council to investigate Kasigwa over allegations of insubordination, misconduct, impropriety, and corruption.

“To expedite and facilitate the work of the council in this regard, including conducting inquiries, hearings, and interviews with key witnesses and personnel with information pertinent to the allegations against you, I hereby direct and authorise you to take your annual leave of 30 working days. You will hand over to Ejalu,” the letter read in part.

Mwebesa further instructed the chairperson of the UNBS Standards Council, Eng. James Kalibbala, to witness the handover of office before the leave commenced and upon its completion.

Mwebesa recently directed the National Standards Council to investigate Kasigwa over alleged misconduct and maladministration. In a letter dated September 3, 2025, and addressed to Kalibbala, Mwebesa cited persistent reports raising “grave allegations” against Kasigwa, including misconduct, maladministration, and possible abuse of office. A copy of the letter has been seen by New Vision.

“These allegations, if substantiated, pose a threat to Uganda’s standards regime, economic security, public safety, and the international credibility of our national quality infrastructure,” the minister warned.

The UNBS, established by an Act of Parliament, is mandated to develop, promote, and enforce standards to protect public health, safety, and the environment, while ensuring fair trade and competitiveness of Ugandan products on the global market. The role of its executive director is central in safeguarding the integrity of this mandate.

Kasigwa was appointed the fifth Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, following the exit of his predecessor amid allegations of misconduct and mismanagement. His appointment was expected to restore confidence and strengthen governance at the standards body.

Kasigwa’s appointment, effective May 13, 2024, was on a four-year contract. He holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications and Computer Engineering from London South Bank University, an MBA from ESAMI Kampala, and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Makerere University.

He succeeded David Livingstone Ebiru, who led UNBS from May 2021 to July 2023. Mwebesa directed Kalibbala to investigate and verify the following allegations: insubordination and defiance of ministerial policy issued by the line ministry, undermining of the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVOC) Programme by delaying the signing of crucial service provider contracts, and disrupting trade.

Related to this were irregular exemptions granted for the importation of used motor vehicles despite known limitations in testing capacity, jeopardising public safety.

Kalibbala responded by writing a letter to Kasigwa asking him to appear before the council. According to sources, Kasigwa appeared before the council in a closed meeting, and several staff members appeared too.

Kasigwa denied the allegations and said they were defamatory in nature.

"Some of these are unfounded documents, there are lots of speculation, falsehoods, the tone is malicious, they are not owed, they are in headed paper of the ministry. Someone out there can write anything about someone. The letter of the minister states that if found true, then the issues are culpable,” Kasigwa said.

Kalibbala declined to comment on the matter but promised he would respond to the media at an appropriate time.