The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has directed the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, to examine the legality of the suspension of the Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Eng. James Kasigwa by the Minister for Trade.
This move comes after Bwamba County MP Richard Gafabusa raised concerns about the standoff at UNBS, citing a recent budget increase from 64 billion to 13 billion shillings.
Gafabusa's motion highlighted allegations of mismanagement and corruption within the entity, prompting the Deputy Speaker to request the Attorney General's guidance on the matter.
The MP also urged the Speaker to direct the relevant committee to investigate these claims.
Previous reports have shown that the UNBS Executive Director faced allegations of misappropriating Shs 12.5 billion.
In July 2023, the Minister of Trade had written to the Board of Directors, directing them to send the Executive Director on forced leave, citing incompetence and financial impropriety. Specifically, $3.4 million was allegedly utilised without authorization, contrary to the law.
By involving the Attorney General, Parliament is exercising its oversight role to ensure that the UNBS leadership crisis is resolved in accordance with the law.
The outcome of this investigation will likely have implications for the entity's operations and the government's efforts to promote quality standards in Uganda.