parliament 20 August 2026 Parliament of Uganda
MPs Grill Standards Council Chair Over Alleged Conflict of Interest
Members of Parliament are questioning James Kalibbala, the Chairperson of the National Standards Council, over potential conflicts of interest due to his membership in the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), an entity his council is mandated to regulate. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4569/mps-raise-conflict-interest-concerns-over-standards-council-chair
Parliament’s Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry has raised concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest involving James Kalibbala, the Chairperson of the National Standards Council. Kalibbala, who also sits on the Advisory Council of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), faced questioning about whether his dual role compromises the independence of the National Standards Council, which oversees the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
Committee Chairperson Hon. Boniface Okot specifically asked Kalibbala if his affiliation with UMA, an organization representing manufacturers, presented a conflict, given that UNBS is responsible for regulating these very businesses and their products. Kalibbala defended his position, arguing that the council regulates individual companies rather than UMA as a collective.
Legal expert and council member Stella Nyapendi acknowledged advising on conflict of interest matters but noted limitations when appointing authorities have already made their decisions. She stated that Kalibbala’s specific situation had not been formally brought to her attention.
The parliamentary inquiry, initially sparked by concerns over the Executive Director of UNBS, Eng. James Kasigwa, has broadened its scope to scrutinize the qualifications, experience, and affiliations of the National Standards Council members.
Further questions were directed at Kalibbala regarding his use of the title “Engineer,” as he admitted to not being registered with the Uganda Engineers Registration Board despite his engineering background. The committee has requested Kalibbala and other council members to provide their academic credentials and resumes for verification.
The committee plans to continue its examination to determine if the current composition, qualifications, and external ties of the National Standards Council align with the requirements for a body overseeing Uganda’s national standards framework.