David Livingstone Ebiru, who held the prestigious position of Executive Director at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), has been forcibly removed from his post following a trail of damning revelations that have left the institution and the nation shocked.
The Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives Minister, Francis Mwebesa, delivered the verdict saying left no room for doubt regarding his culpability
Minister Mwebesa’s letter, serving as the final nail in the coffin, highlighted the severe ramifications of Ebiru’s actions.
“Your admission of bribery under oath and attempting to withdraw such an allegation has caused grave injury to the reputation of the Chairman and Members of the Council,” Mwebesa stated unequivocally.
In alignment with the unanimous recommendation of the National Standards Council, Minister Mwebesa invoked Section 11(2), (5) (b), and (c) of the UNBS Amendment Act 2013 to dismiss Ebiru from his role as the Executive Director of UNBS with immediate effect.
This action, undertaken in response to a litany of transgressions, was intended to restore integrity and confidence to the institution and the larger public.
The decision to oust Ebiru came on the heels of an intensive parliamentary probe and a rigorous internal inquiry conducted by the UNBC Board.
Ebiru’s was on the spot for not only breaching ethical boundaries but also violating laws and regulations that demand the highest standards of accountability and transparency.
One of the most glaring revelations was Ebiru’s admission of withdrawing and spending a staggering $3.2 million (equivalent to 11.5 billion shillings) from the PVoC (Pre-export Verification of Conformity) collection funds.
These funds were meant to be remitted to the Consolidated Fund, a critical practice that Ebiru’s actions contravened, flouting the Public Finance Management Act 2015.
Ebiru also acknowledged making cash withdrawals without proper authorization, a violation of the UNBS Finance and Administration Manual and the Treasury Instructions 2017. He had withdrawn up to 285 million shillings from funds deposited by traders and businesses as security, going against the advice and guidance of the Accountant General and the Republic of Uganda Treasury Instructions 2017.
Ebiru’s leadership faced further condemnation for his failure to take disciplinary action against five staff members who caused substantial financial loss to the UNBS, amounting to a staggering 9.282 billion shillings.
These staff members were implicated in altering inspection reports and manipulating application dates, which not only undermined the integrity of the institution but also betrayed the public’s trust.
Adding to the layers of misconduct was Ebiru’s false denial of being investigated and found guilty by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) for misappropriating funds intended for the Fuel Marking Project.
Daniel Richard Makayi Nangalama has stepped in as Acting Executive Director to navigate the organization.
Comments are closed.