1. Home
  2. Stories
  3. Industry
  4. Standards

Expectations high as UNBS gets hi-tech executive director

Peter 16th May, 2024 Industry Business Edge Reporter
Expectations high as UNBS gets hi-tech executive director

Mr. James N. Kasigwa has been named the new executive director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) following an appointment by the Minster of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa.

Kasigwa, 45, is an electrical engineer by profession and boasts of an illustrious career, having worked with multinational corporations, private and public sectors, spanning over two decades in leadership and strategic management of expert teams in Science, Technology, Innovation, Standards and the Infrastructure Industry.

Prior to the new appointment, which took effect on May 13, Kasigwa has been working with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation as the Director for Science, Technology, Innovation Regulation and Biosafety.

  • He previously worked as the Commissioner ICT Infrastructure Development at the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance and in the private sector in the areas of information security and risk management. He becomes the 5th ED of UNBS, replacing David Livingstone Ebiru (2021-2023) who was fired over alleged mismanagement.

The standards body particularly shone during the reign of Dr. Ben Manyindo (2012 - 2021) who made significant contributions to the organization's efforts in standardization and quality assurance.

Formed in 1989, UNBS is mandated to enforce standards in Uganda to ensure the quality and safety of products and services. The body develops, adopts, and promotes standards for products, services, and systems in various sectors of the economy. These standards ensure consistency, safety, and quality, thereby enhancing consumer confidence and facilitating trade.

  • Additionally, UNBS is mandated to conduct quality assurance activities such as product testing, certification, and inspection to verify compliance with established standards. This helps to safeguard public health, safety, and environmental protection.

UNBS is also responsible for maintaining the national measurement standards and providing calibration and metrology services to ensure accuracy and reliability in measurements across different sectors.

UNBS’s mandate also includes developing, promoting and enforcing standards in protection of public health and safety, and the environment against dangerous substandard products as well as ensuring fair trade.

Additionally, UNBS assesses and certifies products, processes, and systems to ensure that they meet specified requirements and standards. This helps to facilitate market access for Ugandan products both domestically and internationally.

Furthermore, its mandate also includes educating consumers about their rights regarding product quality and safety, as well as investigating complaints and taking enforcement actions against non-compliant products so as to protect consumers from substandard goods and services.

  • Kasigwa’s appointment comes at time when the standards body is still reeling after numerous financial scandals involving the misappropriation of billions of shillings.
  • He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Makerere University, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and a Master’s of Science degree in Telecommunications Engineering from London South Bank Uiversity, London, England, and an MBA in Business Administration from ESAMI.

Similar Posts You May Like 

  • MTN Youth Skilling Program: Irene Nandyose turns hobby into a thriving business

    MTN Youth Skilling Program: Irene Nandyose turns hobby into a thriving busin..

    Irene Nandyose, a business administration graduate from Makerere University Kampala loved knitting and crocheting during her free time on campus. And it is through this exercise that a business idea was hatched. But the business idea was only implemented in 2020 following training under the MTN ..

  • MTN Uganda unveils the second phase of MTN Ace Tech as 20 enterprises are selected to take part in the program

    MTN Uganda unveils the second phase of MTN Ace Tech as 20 enterprises are se..

    Wednesday 31 st May 2023 Kampala, Uganda- MTN Uganda has unveiled the second phase of MTN ACE-Tech known as the MTN Ace-Tech-Incubation program aimed at equipping enterprises with skills needed to successfully spur growth of their businesses. This follows conclusion of the MTN Ace-Tech's first ph..

  • President commissions fruit processing factory in Nakasongola

    President commissions fruit processing factory in Nakasongola..

    President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commissioned Kike Tropical Fruits Limited, an extraction and refinery plant. Situated in Kakooge, Nakasongola District, the factory deals in fruit processing. During the commissioning, the President thanked Mr. Francis Mugabe, the proprietor of the factory and his f..

  • Protect Local Industries – Museveni

    Protect Local Industries – Museveni..

    President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said that the government will continue protecting local manufacturers from unfair competition..

  • Mbale Industrial Park Development Takes Off

    Mbale Industrial Park Development Takes Off..

    The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has handed over the Mbale Industrial and Business Park site to China Railway Number 3 Group for the design and building of key infrastructure like tarmac roads and water and sewerage systems...

  • Kiira Motors seeks UGX524 billion to fund 5-year plan

    Kiira Motors seeks UGX524 billion to fund 5-year plan..

    Kiira Motors Corporation, a budding indigenous vehicle building enterprise, has presented a UGX524 billion proposed business investment budget to the Presidential Affairs Committee of Parliament. It was contained in the Ministerial Policy Statement, and Budget Estimates for the FY 2024/2025. ..

  • Manufacturers task Gov't, banks on high interest rates

    Manufacturers task Gov't, banks on high interest rates..

    The Government wants commercial banks to lower the interest rates they charge manufacturers so as to stimulate growth in the sector, but banks also insist that the Government has an important role to play. ..

  • Ugandan innovation wins UGX70m engineering prize

    Ugandan innovation wins UGX70m engineering prize..

    An innovation by Mr. Martin Tumusiime and his friends has won 15,000 British Pounds (about UGX70 million) from the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Prize for Innovation, at a ceremony held in Nairobi yesterday...

  • Museveni assents to Free Zones Authority, Exports Board merger

    Museveni assents to Free Zones Authority, Exports Board merger..

    The new law that merges the Uganda Free Zones Authority with the Uganda Exports Promotions Board is one of the Acts that have been assented to by the President...

  • Minister cautions entrepreneurs on informality

    Minister cautions entrepreneurs on informality ..

    Entrepreneurs have been urged to formalize their business ventures if they are to benefit from financial services providers and expand their businesses...

  • Turkish, Chinese investors in trouble over wetlands

    Turkish, Chinese investors in trouble over wetlands..

    The Standards Utilities and Wildlife Court has sentenced Kerim Ray, a Turkish investor and Director of Yamani Construction Limited, to pay a fine of UGX200 million, following his conviction for degrading a wetland in Mukono District...

Most Recent

Popular Links