KAMPALA. Court is set to begin hearing the case in Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago is suing KCCA and its executive directive over failure to pay his salary for three years after the parties fail to reach an out of court settlement.
Last year, the High Court called for a mediation between the parties; Mr Lukwago, KCCA, Kampala minister Beti Kamya and the Attorney General in regard to the Lord Mayor’s suit, demanding Shs516m salary arrears, accumulated between 2013 and 2016 following his controversial impeachment.
But on Wednesday, the Attorney General’s representative, Mr Johnson Natuhwera, told the mediator, Mr Rukyalekere Christopher, that following consultations, government has decided that the case be tried by a judge.
The Attorney General argued that it would be in contempt of court for Mr Lukwago to be paid a salary or derive any benefit from KCCA, yet there are pending cases in court over the same issue.
“We had a discussion with the attorney general and concluded that this matter should go for formal hearing,” Mr Natuhwera said.
In response, Mr Lukwago expressed shock over the communication, saying he had held several meetings with KCCA, in which the latter had agreed to pay him. However, he expressed readiness to face the court.
Mr Lukwago’s salary demand accrues from his failed impeachment process by city councillors. Mr Lukwago was elected mayor in 2011 but in 2013, he was impeached through a process presided over by the Kampala minister Frank Tumwebaze. However, Justice Lydia Mugambe later declared the impeachment null and void.
