UNBS boss fired

By DAVID SSEMPIJJA

Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde has fired the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) executive director Dr. Terry Kahuma over alleged mismanagement.

The new development follows a recommendation by the commission of inquiry instituted in February by the minister to investigate mismanagement allegations at the standards agency.

 "In line with the recommendations of the commission, Dr. Terry Kahuma's contract as executive director of UNBS has been terminated," she said during a press conference at the ministry headquarters Tuesday.

 Kyambadde instituted the commission after public complaints about the way UNBS staff conducted business.  The commission recommended that Kahuma be relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

 The commission said that Kahuma had failed to uphold the mandate of the agency and that there was misallocation of financial resources whereby funds were used on facilities for private businesses.

Other bosses interdicted
Five other UNBS officials that were also implicated in the report have also been interdicted and are to be investigated.

They include Tom Lule (inspector); Billy Tumusiime (surveillance officer); Gilbert Arinaitwe (certification officer);  Gyavira Musoke (acting head of Quality Assurance) and Samuel Balagadde (manager, Imports Inspection).

"I have instructed the acting executive director Dr. Ben Manyindo to immediately interdict the other members of staff and institute measures to carry out investigations, I will accordingly inform cabinet of the actions I have taken " Kyambadde said.

Kahuma recently disputed the commission's report arguing that it did not address the real issues.

"For the ten years I have served, I have transformed the agency which has registered tremendous growth in every aspect, and my credibility has never been questioned, there are other hidden issues why it's happening now," he insisted.

 He insisted that the issue was linked to the re-appointment of the Uganda National Standards Council (board) headed by Dr. Williams Ssali which former trade and industry minister, Maj. Gen Kahinda Otafiire, had disbanded accusing it of extravagance.

According to Kahuma, the reappointed board members were out to settle old scores with him.