The appointment of the new Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has been contested.
The Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, appointed Eng. James Nkamwesiga Kasigwa as the new UNBS boss, effective May 13, 2024.
Eng Kasigwa replaced Dr. David Livingstone Ebiru, who served as ED from May 2021 to July 2023.
However, the appointment of Eng Kasigwa has been contested by one George Ahimbisibwe on the grounds that the Trade Minister acted in contravention of the UNBS Act.
Through his lawyers, Wanambugo and Co. Advocates, Ahimbisibwe has written to the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, and Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, asking them to investigate and cancel Kwasigwa’s appointment.
“The above matter refers to wherein we act for and on behalf of Mr. Ahimbisibwe George (the concerned citizen), hereinafter referred to as our client, and on whose instructions we write this complaint. The gist of our client’s complaint is in respect to the illegal appointment of the Executive Director of the of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards by the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives,” Ahimbisibwe’s letter through Wanambugo and Co. Advocates to the Attorney General reads in part.
UNBS advertised for the position of Executive Director via an advertisement dated January 5, 2024.
The letter reads that, consequent to the advertisement, six candidates were shortlisted for the interviews, and following the said interviews, the National Standards Council recommended to the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives the best two candidates for the appointment to the position of Executive Director pursuant to Section 11 of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act as amended.
It adds that despite the recommendation of the board, the trade minister went ahead and instead appointed 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.”
Ahimbisibwe asked the Attorney General to advise and prevail over the Minister, and reverse the appointment of Kwasigwa.
In another letter to the IGG, Ahimbisibwe asked Beti Kamya to intervene and investigate the “illegal appointment.
Prior to this appointment, Eng. Kasigwa had been serving as the Director of Science, Technology, Innovation, Regulation, and Biosafety at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uganda. He also served as the Commissioner for ICT Infrastructure Development at the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance.
