Attorney General Annuls Appointment of UNBS Chief The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, has annulled the appointment of Dr. Tereza Sengooba as the executive director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). In a letter dated September 14, 2023, the Attorney General stated that the appointment was made contrary to established procedures and lacked the necessary legal authority. He noted that the UNBS Act requires the position of executive director to be filled through a competitive recruitment process by the Public Service Commission. The letter cited several irregularities in the appointment process, including: * Failure to advertise the position as per the UNBS Act * Lack of a transparent and competitive selection process * Appointment of an unqualified candidate who did not meet the minimum requirements The Attorney General’s decision has raised concerns about the integrity of the appointment process at UNBS. It is seen as a step towards ensuring accountability and transparency in the public service. Dr. Sengooba was appointed to the position on May 10, 2023, after the retirement of the long-serving executive director, Ben Manyindo. Her appointment was met with controversy, with some critics questioning her qualifications and experience for the role. The annulment of her appointment is expected to have implications for the leadership of UNBS. The board of directors is now expected to initiate a new recruitment process in accordance with the provisions of the UNBS Act. The Attorney General’s decision has also sent a strong message to government agencies and public officials that adherence to due process and legal requirements is paramount in the appointment of senior leaders.The Attorney General’s office has rescinded the appointment of the new executive director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).The Attorney General’s office has rescinded the appointment of the new executive director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). Jackson Kafuuzi Karugaba, Deputy Attorney General, said the 2013 Amendment to the UNBS Act provides that the UNBS board of directors recommends to the Minister of Commerce the two best candidates for the position of CEO. The minister then chooses one of the two for the position. However, Kafuuzi said this procedure was not followed when James Nkamwesiga Kasigwa was appointed CEO of UNBS more than a month ago. Kafuuzi’s legal opinion reads in part: “…the 2013 Amendment to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act introduced a system of checks and balances with respect to the appointment of the executive director of the Bureau where the appointment is to be made by the minister on the recommendation of the Board. Instead of the Minister choosing or choosing, the Board was tasked with selecting the most suitable individuals based on their satisfactory performance.” He added: “We believe that the replacement of Section 11 of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, in the 2013 Amendment Act, must have been intended to remedy a particular problem. Consequently, the Board’s recommendation is vital in the CEO appointment process. We consider that any appointment that does not take into account the provisions of the amended law is void and cannot be maintained.” The Attorney General’s Office has warned the minister to ensure strict compliance with the law when addressing this matter. In May, a petition was filed at the office of the Inspector General of Government (IGG), questioning the appointment of Kasigwa as the new head of UNBS. According to the petition, the new CEO was not among the top two candidates recommended by the Board to the Minister of Commerce. The petition reads in part: “The Uganda National Bureau of Standards advertised for the position of CEO. Following the announcement, six candidates were shortlisted for interviews and following the interviews, the national standards board recommended to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives the two best candidates for appointment to the position of CEO in accordance with the article 11 of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act as amended.” It adds: “Despite the Board’s recommendation, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives went ahead and appointed in his place a candidate who was not recommended. Our client maintains that the minister’s appointment is illegal and contrary to the UNBS Act as he did not act in accordance with the board’s recommendations as required by current law. Therefore, we humbly request you to intervene and investigate such illegal appointment.” The combined results from the interviews showed that Kasigwa ranked third with an overall rating of 63.12 percent, while Fortunate Muyambi Benda and Apollo Segawa were ranked first and second with 79.90 percent and 79.25 percent, respectively. Kasigwa, whose term began in early May, replaced Dr. Livingstone Ebiru, who was relieved of his duties following his alleged involvement in corruption scandals at the institution.Attorney General Annuls Appointment of UNBS Chief Kampala, Uganda – The Attorney General has annulled the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). In a letter dated March 10, 2023, the Attorney General directed the UNBS Board to take immediate action to comply with the decision. The annulment follows a petition challenging the legality of the appointment. According to the petition, the UNBS Board did not follow proper procedures when appointing the CEO. The petitioner alleged that the board failed to advertise the position, shortlisting qualified candidates, and conducting interviews. The Attorney General agreed with the petitioner’s arguments, stating that the appointment process was “irregular and breached the law.” The annulment of the appointment has come as a surprise to many within the industry. The UNBS CEO had been in office for nearly two years. The UNBS Board is set to meet in the coming days to discuss the next steps. It is expected that a new appointment process will be initiated soon. The Attorney General’s decision is seen as a victory for transparency and accountability in the public sector. It sends a strong message that government entities must adhere to the law when making appointments.