Uganda has secured a major victory on the international standardisation stage, after Eng. James Kasigwa, the Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), was elected as a Council member of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) for the 2026-2028 term.
The win, which saw Uganda prevail over Costa Rica for the seat on the ISO Group 4 Council, took place during the ISO General Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 9, 2025.
This significant milestone strengthens Uganda’s voice in shaping international standards that impact quality, equity, safety, trade, and sustainable development globally.
“I will ensure that we leverage our knowledge and experience in standardisation to advocate for enhanced participation of members in the technical and policy work of ISO,” Eng. Kasigwa said shortly after securing the victory.
“As a Council member, my focus will be on enhancing diversity and inclusiveness in the ISO system through increased engagement of developing economies, women, and the youth,” he added.
Victory for African Consensus and Global Relevance
Uganda’s successful bid was a product of strong regional and global consensus:
Regional Endorsement
Uganda was endorsed as the sole candidate representing the African region during the 32nd African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) General Assembly in June 2025.
International Support
The nomination was formally put forward by Rwanda, Tanzania, the Republic of Korea (South), and South Africa.
The timing of the election, coinciding with Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day, lends symbolic weight to the victory, underscoring the nation’s growing influence in global technical bodies.
Eng. Kasigwa’s Mandate of Inclusivity and Digitalisation
In his maiden speech as a new ISO Council member, Eng. Kasigwa underscored his commitment to using Uganda’s unique perspective as a developing, rapidly evolving economy to enrich the Council’s policy and strategic deliberations. His mandate is focused on three key areas:
Amplifying the Voice of Developing Economies
Eng. Kasigwa noted that developing countries constitute up to 75% of the ISO membership yet are “dismally participating” in the policy and technical work, jeopardising the global relevance of standards. He pledged:
To ably represent and amplify the voice of developing countries in the ISO Council.
To advocate for enhanced participation of members in the technical and policy work of ISO.
To focus on enhancing diversity and inclusiveness in the ISO system by increasing engagement of developing economies, women, and the youth.
Leveraging Digital Transformation
With his background as an electrical engineer and a decade of experience as Uganda’s focal point person for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Eng. Kasigwa plans to champion the uptake of digitalisation initiatives among members to bridge the existing gap between developed and developing economies.
Championing Standards as an Economic Enabler
Uganda’s successful bid was based on the conviction that standards are a silent yet critical force for sustainable socio-economic transformation. Eng. Kasigwa pledged to leverage his expertise to champion the use of standards as enablers of enterprise, market access, and economic development.
As a member of the ISO Council, Uganda will directly contribute to promoting the relevance and impact of ISO standards in addressing critical global challenges, including Climate change, Sustainable development, and Public health.