UNBS on spot over extravagant expenditure
Eng James Nkamwesiga Kasigwa, Executive Director, UNBS.
Shs435 million budgeted for Christmas gifts
By Stephen Wandera Ouma
KAMPALA – Uganda National Bureau of Standards is on the stop for overgenerous expenditure recently banned by Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
The wasteful disbursement comes at a time when Eng James Nkamwesiga Kasigwa, Executive Director, UNBS is pulling ropes with the minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa.
Eng Kasigwa petitioned the High court seeking to block an investigation ordered against him over alleged corruption, insubordination, misconduct, and abuse of office.
In a directive dated September 30, 2025, Mwebesa, instructed the chairperson of the UNBS Board to investigate Kasigwa over several allegations levelled against him.
A subsequent order dated October 7 required Kasigwa to take one month’s forced leave effective October 15, pending the outcome of a judicial review case he had earlier filed challenging the same directives.
Established as a statutory body in 1989 under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives is mandated to develop, promote, and enforce national standards in Uganda. Its main roles include protecting public health and safety, ensuring fairness in trade, promoting quality and competitiveness for local products in both local and international markets to strengthen the national economy. UNBS carries out these functions through activities such as standards formulation, quality assurance, laboratory testing, and measurement systems.
In a latest development according to investigations by East African Vanguard, on Friday 28th, November 2025, the Standards Agency has awarded extravagant tenders in surveys and Christmas gifts different companies.
Among the excessive costs, UNBS staff are to walk home this Christmas season with gifts worth Shs260 million. Another Shs175 million has been spent on Christmas related services of which details were not given.
When contacted, Mr Ponsiano Managing Director, Capital Shoppers Supermarkets, a chain of supermarket stores welcomed and confirmed having landed on the UNBS Christmas deals saying it is a normal practice.
“This is not new, it is an annual expenditure, it is not new. Other government institutions do the same expenditure although we have
missed out on most of these bids,” he said.
UNBS has also awarded Abnest Consultancy SMC Limited a tender for Business management and consultancy the Standards Agency’ role in Implementation of the 10-fold growth strategy for Uganda. The questionable deal is worth Shs591,888,000.
Directors of Future Options Consulting Limited will soon be walking to the bank smiling after land a UNBS staff Shs35.4 million deal to conduct a consultancy salary survey.
When contacted, Kasigwa was in a meeting and promised to respond but by press time, no communication had been made.
