KAMPALA – High Court judge Henerrieta Wolayo has on November 18 ordered that the Police’s Director Engineering and Logistics Godfrey Bangirina be kicked out of office for lack of a valid contract with the Force.
The judge noted that it was obvious that Mr. Bangirana has no valid contract of the employment duly executed and yet he continues to hold out as an assistant inspector general of police,a fact that was admitted by the Attorney General.
“This state of affairs waters down the authority of the office of the assistant inspector general of police and brings the police force into disrepute there by causing irreparable damage,” the judge ruled.
Regarding the prayer for a temporary injunction to restrain the Uganda Police Authority from the renewal of Bangirana’s contract, the judge noted that this prayer is without legal basis as the Uganda Police Authority.
Isaac Maddo who calls himself a concerned citizen sued Bangirana jointly with the Attorney General who is the Chief legal representative of the government.
However, the prosecution led by Ms Josephine Kiyingi had opposed the application of Mr Maddo in which he sought for temporary orders to compel Mr Bangirana to vacate office until the determination of the main case.
She told court that the application was already overtaken by events following a July 19, 2019 letter in which the Permanent Secretary in Internal Affairs Ministry, Dr Benon Mutambi allowed him to remain as they are considering his stay thus the application is misconceived.
Kiyingi had told the court that Bangirana was still considered in police and doing their work, therefore, his entitled to payment.
However, Dr David Mushabe who is representing Mr Maddo asked the court to disregard the Attorney General’s submissions reasoning that there is no renewal yet, therefore, the court should not be taken up by illegality since the permanent secretary was just misled.
In the main case, Mr Maddo, a member of the opposition Uganda Young democrats is seeking for declaratory orders that Mr Bangirana’s stay in office is unlawful and that he refunds the salary and emoluments received while in office illegally.
Maddo is also seeking for orders that Bangirana vacates office until the determination of the case and a temporary injunction against the Police Authority from renewing his contract until refund or disposal of the matter.
He alleges that the continued receipt of salary and emoluments by Bangirana while in office is unlawful and wastage of government resources.
According to the court documents, on 16th July 2019, the contract of the second defendant (Bangirana) expired and was directed by the Inspector General of Police to hand over and vacate office as his continued stay would raise several queries from the public service.
Mr Bangirana is one of the four directors whose contracts are pending renewal by the appointing authority.
