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On Monday, the National Standards Council appointed Daniel Nangalama as Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) acting executive director replacing embattled David Livingstone Ebiru who was sent on forced leave.

Who is Nangalama?

According to information on the UNBS website, Nangalama previously served as the deputy executive director in charge of management and financial services, responsible for the provision of strategic leadership and oversight of the directorate through effective and efficient planning, monitoring, coordinating, and implementation of UNBS policies and programmes, ensuring proper management and optimal utilisation of available resources. 

He previously worked with the bureau as an audit manager from 2013 to 2016.

Before his appointment to this role, he was serving as the chief internal auditor at Kyambogo University. 

He has over two decades of experience in both private and public entities. His working experience entails strategy and policy monitoring, internal audit, financial and operations management within the sectors of tertiary education, energy and quality and standards regulation.

He holds a master of science degree in accounting and finance; a post-graduate diploma in human resource management; a certificate in law (administrative officers course) and a bachelor of commerce. 

He has also received training in Quality Management Systems (QMS ISO 9001), Corporate Governance for directors and senior managers, Internet security and ethical hacking, competence-based job evaluation, and public finance reforms among others. professionally, he is a certified public accountant (Uganda and Kenya), certified internal auditor, certified information systems auditor, and certified ISO 31000 risk management professional.

He is actively involved in governance responsibilities as a member of the audit committee of the Inter-University Council of East Africa, the Governing Council of Aduku College of Commerce, board of Finance Mukono Diocese. 

He is also chairperson board of governors Bubulo Secondary School and a board member of Bubulo Girls High School. In addition, he has served on several professional committees at the Institute of Internal Auditors of Uganda (IIA-Uganda) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU).

According to UNBS, during his working and voluntary life, he has fostered the establishment of policy frameworks and institutional capabilities in the areas of governance, auditing, risk management, and financial and operations management. 

He is a strong advocate of teamwork, inclusiveness, value-added proposition, continuous improvement and professionalism. 

He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda and a life member of the Bible Society of Uganda.

Sent on forced leave

On Friday, trade minister Francis Mwebesa sent Ebiru on forced leave over charges related to misconduct and misappropriation of funds at UNBS.

In his July 20, 2023, letter, Mwebesa tells Ebiru: “In light of the serious allegations raised against you, you are hereby directed to step aside for a period of six months with effect from today, July 20, 2023, to enable sufficient investigations into your misappropriation of funds, misconduct and abuse of office.”

Mwebesa on Friday told the parliament committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) that he had asked Ebiru to step aside for six months to create room for the investigations into the charges levied against him: "As we talk here, I expect this man to be on leave”.

The Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2021/2022, implicated Ebiru in misappropriating shillings 12.9 billion and also shielding five staff from reprimand after they caused financial loss worth shillings 9.3 billion.

On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, Ebiru, while appearing before COSASE claimed he had bribed UNBS board members with shillings 100 million to retain and extend his contract.

He later retracted his statement on Thursday, July 20 and said he made the remarks out of anger.