Parliament has intervened in the controversy surrounding the suspension of Eng. James Kasigwa, Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), following allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and insubordination.
During a plenary sitting, Richard Gafabusa, MP for Bwamba County, urged Parliament to halt Kasigwa’s suspension until the allegations are fully investigated.
He questioned the timing of the suspension, which was issued just two days after Kasigwa’s appointment to a key role at a global standards body.
Gafabusa argued that the allegations made by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, should undergo a parliamentary inquiry before any decisive action.
Some legislators expressed concern that the suspension might have been imposed unilaterally and without consultation with oversight authorities.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa directed Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa to examine the legality and circumstances surrounding the suspension. Tayebwa emphasized that all government actions must comply with the law.
The Attorney General’s findings will guide Parliament’s next steps, reflecting growing concern over governance and procedural fairness in public institutions, particularly in cases involving senior officials.