The Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), James Kasigwa, has been sent on mandatory leave following allegations of misconduct, mismanagement, and corruption, according to a directive issued by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, on October 15, 2025.
In the ministerial order, Mwebesa instructed Kasigwa to step aside immediately to allow for an independent probe into his conduct and the management of the Bureau. The National Standards Council has been given two weeks to conduct investigations and present a report on the allegations that have cast a shadow over one of Uganda’s key regulatory agencies.
During the investigation, Patricia Bageine Ejalu, the Deputy Executive Director in charge of Standards, has been appointed as Acting Executive Director, ensuring continuity of the Bureau’s operations. The Ministry emphasized that the temporary leadership changes are aimed at maintaining public trust and safeguarding institutional integrity during the probe.
Kasigwa’s suspension marks the second major leadership shake-up at UNBS in just over two years, following the 2023 dismissal of former Executive Director David Livingstone Ebiru under similar allegations of financial impropriety and abuse of office. The recurrence of such scandals within the Bureau has raised serious questions about governance and accountability in Uganda’s quality assurance sector.
UNBS plays a pivotal role in ensuring product quality, consumer safety, and export competitiveness through standardization, certification, and market surveillance. However, the series of corruption allegations threatens investor confidence and could undermine the credibility of Uganda’s certification systems, which are critical for regional and international trade.
The ongoing probe will test the government’s commitment to transparency and institutional reform.
UNBS is central to Uganda’s trade ecosystem — instability at the top affects manufacturers, exporters, and public health enforcement.
The Ministry has assured stakeholders that the investigation will be conducted swiftly and transparently. Businesses and consumers are watching closely, as the outcome could shape the future of leadership accountability within Uganda’s key regulatory institutions.