1117 Ex-workers of defunct UEB sue URSB over terminal benefits
Former employees of the defunct Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) have sued the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) seeking for terminal benefits.
URSB is the official liquidator of UEB which is still in liquidation according to the court documents.
A total of 1117 former workers of UEB are seeking for recovery of their reparation allowance, damages and legal costs incurred and interest therein.
Court documents show that a total of 1117 former employees of UEB were laid off following the government parastatals restructuring programmes between 1998 – 2001.
Through their lawyers of Ms Okurut and Company Advocates, the group claims that upon termination of their services, they were to be paid terminal benefits together with a transport allowance of Shs600,000 for junior staff and Shs1,000,000 for senior staff.
Led by one Julius Silver Onyait, the complainants allege that at the time of termination, the complainants were promised that the money would be deposited into their account together with terminal benefits within a period of four weeks.
“However, the plaintiffs were surprised to receive their terminal benefits without payment of their transport allowance which was contrary to the communications and promises they had earlier on received,” reads the court document adding that the final payment to the claimants and the 715 others by the liquidator was minus the transport allowance that was rightly due to the them but it was unreasonably withheld.
It is alleged that the claimants only discovered in 2016 that the liquidator had actually not paid them their transport allowance which money was given to them by the government but efforts through their advocates were futile as the liquidator refused to pay them.
“The plaintiffs have tried but in vain to demand for the payment of their transport allowance since then to date but the liquidator who took over as liquidator for UEB in 2006 has continued to deny them the payment with full knowledge that they were not paid despite receiving the same from the government.
The former employees contend that the actions of the liquidator in misappropriating their transport allowance and concealing any information regarding their payments to all the former UEB workers amount to fraud.
They are now seeking for an order that the accused party pays transport allowance to all the former employees of UEB not paid together with the complainants retrenched between 1998 – 2001, damages, punitive damages and legal costs incurred.
However, the official liquidator (UEB) denies any wrongdoing saying that it shall raise a preliminary objection to the effect that the complainants are by law prohibited from bring a fresh case in respect of the same facts which were previously dismissed by the same for want of prosecution.
The defendant contends that the former workers are seeking for reliefs that are substantially similar to those which were dismissed in a 2016 case and no further steps have been taken to prosecute an appeal.
“The present suit is an abuse of court process, misconceived, cannot be maintained against the defendant (Liquidator) and ought to be dismissed with costs,” reads the court document.
Meanwhile the case awaits hearing and determination before the High Court.
The case comes after the High Court dismissed with costs the case in which Onyait Julius Silver on behalf of 877 others sued the official liquidator of UEB jointly lawyer Peter Kimanje Nsibambi.
Justice Musa Ssekaana of the Civil Division of the High Court dismissed the case
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum