UNBS gets new boss, former executive director sent on forced leave

This new development comes against the backdrop of a revelation by former executive director, David Livingstone Ebiru, that he bribed the UNBS board with sh100 million to renew his contract.

Ebiru made the revelations while appearing before the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE). He was tasked by the committee’s chairperson, Joel Ssenyonyi, to explain why there was mismanagement of funds and corruption at UNBS.

Ssenyonyi also tasked the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, to explain why he wrote a letter to Ebiru suspending him for six months on June 26, 2023, but on June 27, 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, for 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 and 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.