Minister Mwebesa to suspend UNBS boss

Ssenyonyi also tasked the minister to explain why he wrote a letter to the entity’s executive director, David Livingstone Ebiru, suspending him for six months on 26 June 2023, but on 27 June 2023, he wrote another letter to the chairperson of the UNBS board rescinding his earlier decision.

He also tasked the board chairperson, Charles Musekuura, to state why he was given the authority to suspend Ebiru but he didn't.

Musekuura told the committee that Ebiru actually rejected the suspension.

Mwebesa on his part said that he was shocked to see Ebiru still in office yet he had suspended him.

Mawokota South Member of Parliament (MP) Yusuf Nsibambi read for the minister the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, which gives the minister powers to appoint the executive director, stating that the suspension, therefore, can only be done by the minister not the board.

This prompted Ssenyonyi to ask the minister to explain what his next step would be.

Mwebesa said he will write a letter suspending the executive director immediately.

“I am going back to write a letter telling him that I thought you had gone on leave following the earlier suspension and yet you are here and have not gone on leave. I will tell him to go on leave,” he said.

Ssenyonyi directed minister to copy the letter to the committee so that they can include it in their report.