Gulu has run to president Museveni to seek help for the huge court awards that threaten to cripple the district.
The district is currently battling against 15 cases brought against it by former employees, contractors and individuals who are demanding for billions of shillings in settlements.
If the district settles all the costs related to the legal suits, it will have to part with 5.4 billion shillings, almost 25 percent of its annual budget estimates.
During the 4th Full Council Meeting of the 10th Council held on Thursday last week, councilors unanimously resolved to meet President Museveni in an attempt to persuade him to intervene in the unending court cases that threatened to leave the district bankrupt.
The motion to seek help from the president was moved by Betty Acan Tino (Elderly) after Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu District LCV Chairperson informed the councilors that he had already informed President Museveni on the court cases including one in which the district is supposed to pay 4.4 billion shillings to parish chiefs it dismissed without following procedure.
Mapenduzi said Museveni had assigned a State House lawyer he [Mapenduzi] identified as only Kiconco to study the high court ruling which ruled infavour of the former parish chiefs leading to the 4.4 billion shillings.
Councilor Tino suggested to council that the president should be persuaded for the central government to take over the responsibility of paying Gulu’s debts.
Gulu Speaker John Okwonga directed Capt. Santos Okot Lapolo, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner (RDC) to arrange for a meeting with President Museveni.
3 Comments
That also will not be good if the district is on the wrong, they should not make the power of the court weak by running to the president. Rather ask for negotiations, may be appeal the high cost and mobilize funds to pay those aggrieved. It will build a better working relationship with team of district staff if negotiations are reached amicability.
Eh! Why not Besigye whom you gave the votes? He would help you better! Alas angee tyene lit.
Gulu district government should accept the ruling, but move to appeal the case in high court for an arbitration. In the arbitration, the district can negotiate and leverage for an amicably condition to fulfill both the continuation of services provision while also paying down for the wrongfull dismissal award by court. There is No local governments in this Uganda, this also include the government of Uganda, that has a deep pocket. So, Local Governments in Uganda needs protection from such cases, when such awards are made do not crippled services provision. Gulu District can pay it’s way out of wrongfull dismissal award for it’s former employees, but this needs to be negotiated between the parties. So, the case will need to be returned to court for an arbitration.