By Our Writer
Amidst numerous scandals, Office of the Attorney General has rejected the recent appointment of Eng James Kasigwa as the new Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) saying appointment was illegal as he didn’t meet the required standards.
Eng Kasigwa was appointed as UNBS Boss by the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa with his term coming into full force effective May 13, 2024.
His appointment saw him replace Dr. David Livingstone Ebiru, who had served as standards head from May 2021 to July 2023 before getting sacked last year over bribery claims.
Concerned citizen contested Kasigwa appointment on the grounds that the Trade Minister acted in contravention of the UNBS Act.
Through his lawyers, Wanambugo and Co. Advocates, George Ahimbisibwe petitioned the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, and Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, asking them to investigate and cancel Kwasigwa’s appointment.
Ahimbisibwe contended that the newly appointed Executive Director was merely hand-picked by the Trade minister since he was not among the best two candidates that were interviewed.
“Despite the recommendation of the Board, the minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives went ahead to appoint a candidate who was not recommended. Our client contends that the appointment by the minister is illegal and contrary to the UNBS Act as he did not act in accordance with the recommendations of the board as required by the current law. It is, therefore, our humble request that you intervene and investigate the said illegal appointment,” the petition reads.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards is a government agency, established by an Act of Parliament of Uganda, UNBS is under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives established by the UNBS Act Cap 327 and became operational in 1989.
The role of UNBS is the formulation and promotion of the use of standards; enforcing standards in protection of the public health and safety and the environment against dangerous, counterfeit and substandard products; ensuring fairness in trade and precision in industry through reliable measurement systems.
