Parliament’s Tourism, Trade and Industry Committee wants Trade Minister to initiate removal proceedings against James K. Kalibbala, citing 34 years of using the protected engineering title without registration.
Parliament’s Tourism, Trade and Industry Committee has recommended that the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives initiate proceedings to remove National Standards Council chairperson James K. Kalibbala from office over his use of the title “Eng” without registration as a professional engineer.
The committee, in a report presented by MP Boniface Okot, argues that Kalibbala’s use of the title raises questions about his integrity and suitability to lead the National Standards Council (NSC), which oversees the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
According to the report, the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) informed the committee that Kalibbala is not registered under the Engineers Registration Act, despite using the prefix “Eng” before his name on official documents.
“The Committee notes with grave concern that the current Chairperson has, for a period of thirty four years, held himself out as an engineer without registration under the Engineers Registration Act,” the report states.
The committee cited Section 28 of the Engineers Registration Act, which restricts the use of the title “Registered Engineer” and the prefix “Eng” to engineers whose names have been entered in the register of registered engineers.
Appendix IV of the committee report contains a memorandum dated October 15, 2025, bearing the name “Eng. James K. Kalibbala”, which the committee cited as evidence of his use of the professional title.
The committee said the issue raised concerns about the integrity expected of the head of a public institution entrusted with setting and maintaining national standards.
“The Committee is of the considered view that the occupant of this office must be a fit and proper person of unquestionable integrity,” the report states.
However, the committee also noted a gap in the law governing appointments to the National Standards Council. It found that the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act does not prescribe specific qualifications or a vetting standard for the council’s chairperson or members.
It recommended that the Trade Minister invoke Section 5(2)(d) of the UNBS Act to initiate the process of removing Kalibbala on grounds of “unfitness to hold office”.
The committee stressed that the process must comply with the rules of natural justice, including Kalibbala’s right to be heard before a decision is made.
The recommendation is a proposed course of action by the parliamentary committee and does not, in itself, constitute a decision removing Kalibbala from office.