In a shocking twist of events, David Livingston Ebiru, the Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), has admitted before the Parliamentary committee on Commission, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) that he offered a bribe of shs100 million to the board in a desperate attempt to secure the renewal of his contract.
The revelation came to light during a meeting held to address concerns raised in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2021/2022.
Ebiru disclosed that the Inspector General of Government (IGG) had recommended his termination due to alleged incompetence. In a bid to fight back and safeguard his position, he confessed to providing the bribe to the board members, led by Charles Museruka, the Chairperson.
According to Ebiru, one board member collected the money from his office in a bag, purportedly to distribute it among the rest of the members.
“I must admit that I resorted to bribing the board to protect my position. The 100 million Ugandan shillings was handed over to one board member for distribution,” Ebiru confessed to the MPs on the parliamentary committee.
However, Museruka and several other board members denied any knowledge of the bribery allegations, expressing astonishment and dismissing them as unfounded.
During the COSASE meeting, they maintained their innocence, with some stating that this was the first time they had heard of such an incident.
“I categorically deny these unfounded claims. I had no knowledge of any such transaction taking place,” Maseruka stated firmly.
Adding to the turmoil, Museruka revealed how Ebiru had been implicated in embezzling shs237 million from a fuel marking program. The Inspector General of Government (IGG) had reportedly uncovered this misconduct and apprehended Ebiru along with other staff members.
In light of these serious allegations, COSASE demanded that Ebiru provide an explanation regarding his academic qualifications and professional experience.
The committee also decided to hand him over to the police for further questioning regarding the bribery and embezzlement charges.
These unfolding events have raised concerns about the integrity and transparency within the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, as well as the qualifications and conduct of its top leadership.
The committee’s investigation aims to uncover the truth and restore confidence in the operations of the bureau.
