UNBS Hit By Corruption Scandal: Executive Director James Kasigwa Under Fire For Mismanagement And Illegal Appointments

By Our Reporter.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has directed the board of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to investigate its Executive Director, Eng. James Nkamwesiga Kasigwa, over a string of allegations ranging from illegal procurement to financial impropriety.

In a strongly worded letter dated August 26, 2025, addressed to the UNBS board chairperson, the Minister cited an internal memorandum that accuses Eng. Kasigwa of actions “that undermine national interests and pose a direct threat to Uganda’s economy, public safety, and the credibility of government institutions.”

The concerns include the alleged illegal procurement of second-hand vehicles, which the memo warns bypassed established procedures and may have compromised compliance with safety regulations. The document also claims that billions of shillings are unaccounted for, with no supporting documentation, raising suspicions of mismanagement or embezzlement.

Further, the memo points to the unauthorised opening of multiple bank accounts without the approval of the Minister or the UNBS board, a move the Trade Ministry described as a breach of financial governance that fuels fears of budget manipulation.

“These actions, if proven true, not only endanger the public but also erode investor confidence and compromise the integrity of our regulatory systems,” the Minister’s letter reads in part, before directing the board to institute a formal inquiry and report back with findings.

Minister Trade to UNBS chair Letter -Investigations

The Ministry’s communication follows an earlier internal letter to Eng. Kasigwa from within UNBS itself, which had already questioned the legality of certain procurements and raised red flags about compliance with safety standards.

This is not the first time Kasigwa’s tenure has attracted scrutiny. On June 21, 2024, the Attorney General advised that his appointment as UNBS Executive Director had been carried out irregularly, sparking questions about adherence to legal and procedural norms within the Trade Ministry.

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Civil society organisations and anti-corruption activists have since added their voices, demanding accountability and calling for Kasigwa’s suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.

“The scale of these accusations demands transparency and accountability at the highest level,” one governance activist told Enengo News yesterday. “If proven true, those responsible must face the full force of the law.”