Posta Uganda sued over parcel

By Andante Okanya

Courier services provider Posta Uganda has been dragged to court over a missing thesis that did not reach its destination of University of Dar-es- Salaam in Tanzania.

On October 7, Makerere University don Prof. Tom Otiti filed a civil suit at the High Court in Kampala, saying he sent a thesis for a student he was supervising, through the company.

Court documents show that the thesis was posted this year on April 15, and was addressed to the principal of the college.

A thesis refers to a document submitted to back a candidate for an academic degree or professional qualification. It contains the candidate's research findings.

However on June 25, Otiti went to the Posta head office in Kampala on Kampala road to inquire about the missing thesis.

Court documents also show that the company acknowledged receipt of Otiti's complaint and promised to give him feedback the next day.

The physics don, is also an external examiner at the college of Natural and Applied Sciences in the Tanzanian university.

Through Ngaruye Ruhindi, Spencer, and Company Advocates, Otiti is demanding damages, saying his reputation has been tarnished due to the debacle.

He has not indicated how much money he wants. This implies that it is the discretion  of the court to determine.

"The plaintiff avers that he is prone to losing his prospective future income  due to the defendant's employees acts and omissions for which he seeks general damages," Otiti states.

He additionally states that he earns $1500 per supervisory assignment from the Tanzanian university, and that annually, he  gets between three to four assignments.

Otiti asserts that his numerous pleas to the company have all been in vain, despite numerous promises.

Otiti laments that the student failed to graduate, and is threatening to sue the university for mental stress and anguish.

Court has ordered the Posta to file his defence within 15 days from the date of receipt of the summons. In the summons dated October 8, 2013, signed by the division registrar Tadeo Asiimwe, the company has been cautioned to heed, lest judgment is reached without its input.

A hearing date is yet to be fixed.