Suspended health official, PS reconciliation ongoing

Jul 15, 2012

Reconciliation talks between the health ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Asuman Lukwago and a suspended official Justin Masaba are ongoing, the High Court has been informed.

By Andante Okanya

Reconciliation talks between the health ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Asuman Lukwago and a suspended official Justin Masaba are ongoing, the High Court in Kampala has been informed.

The case arose on March 13 this year when the senior assistant secretary in the health ministry, also a lawyer, petitioned court over an alleged witch-hunt by Lukwago.

Appearing on Tuesday in court presided by Justice Vincent  Zehurikize, Masaba's lawyer Jude Byamukama said the government's chief  legal advisor, the Attorney General(AG) had written to him, requesting for his client's demands.

Prior, the AG had proposed an out-of-court settlement to resolve the dispute, which the judge welcomed.

"I have been served a letter dated July 3, 2012 from the Attorney General's chambers requesting me to provide a specific proposal on how the matter can be settled," Byamukama said.

He added that Masaba welcomed the gesture, and that he [Byamukama] would send the proposal indicating Masaba's demands.

Byamukama asked for a short adjournment of a few days to enable the conflicting parties conclude the talks.

The AG's representative, State attorney Muwanguzi Mugagga acknowledged the presence of the AG's letter.

But he said whereas the talks were ongoing, an adequate period of one month would enable stakeholders including the Public Service ministry, Public Service Commission, and health ministry to deliberate on Masaba's demands.

Accordingly, the judge adjourned the case to August 30, saying it is vital that the parties exhaust all avenues to resolve the dispute amicably rather than engage in a tedious court battle.

Masaba asserts that the accusations contained in his suspension letter dated February 20, 2012, linking him to a plot to harm senior management staff, like health minister, Dr Christine Ondoa are fabricated.

In his application for judicial review filed on March 13, Masaba alleges that Lukwago orchestrated his suspension, without giving him an opportunity to defend himself.

His application is supported by his affidavit.

Judicial review is conducted by the High Court in relation to proceedings plus decisions taken by subordinate courts, persons, and inferior tribunals or public bodies.

The Attorney General is also listed as the first respondent alongside Lukwago.

Masaba wants court to quash his suspension, claiming he has suffered hardship since he depended entirely on his salary. He claims to be indebted to Housing Finance Bank, where he is servicing a loan.

Masaba states that Lukwago ordered the human resource commissioner to halt payment of his salary amounting to sh7m. Details in the suspension letter, contained in the court documents cite abandonment of duty by Masaba.

In the suspension letter, Lukwago stated that former health minister, Stephen Mallinga whom Masaba served as personal assistant, had expressed discontent about his performance.

Lukwago also informed Masaba that the purported act of abandoning duty made it difficult for him to be redeployed since the crime amounted to breach of public service rules.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});