Court awards ex-Africa 2000 boss sh55m over unlawful dismissal
Former Africa 2000 Network Uganda executive director Frederick Musisi Kabuye has been awarded Sh55m by the Industrial Court over an unfair dismissal, after the court found that his employer breached disciplinary procedures.
Court awards ex-Africa 2000 boss sh55m over unlawful dismissal
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The Industrial Court has awarded former Africa 2000 Network Uganda executive director Frederick Musisi Kabuye sh55m after finding that his dismissal was procedurally unfair and unlawful.
In an award delivered on October 28, 2026, Justice Anthony Wabwire Musana ordered Africa 2000 Network Uganda to pay Kabuye Sh11m in salary in lieu of notice, sh5.5m for denial of a fair hearing and sh38.5m in severance pay.
The court, however, found that Kabuye’s misconduct justified his dismissal but ruled that the organisation had failed to follow its disciplinary procedures, given him insufficient notice and denied him representation during the disciplinary hearing.
The dispute arose in August 2013 when the organisation’s board directed Kabuye, then its executive director, to take annual leave.
He declined, saying he was engaged in negotiations with a major donor.
Kabuye challenged the dismissal, arguing that the board members’ three-year tenure had expired on June 5, 2013, and that they lacked the authority to suspend or dismiss him.
He also argued that he had been denied a fair hearing and sought compensation for wrongful dismissal, including Sh191.4m for the unexpired period of his employment contract.
The respondents, Africa 2000 Network Uganda and the other parties to the case, maintained that the dismissal was lawful, citing gross insubordination and poor performance.
They also argued that the board’s actions had subsequently been ratified by the organisation’s members.
The court also found that Kabuye’s companion, Wilberforce Serwanga, had been asked to leave the meeting, denying him the opportunity to be accompanied during the disciplinary hearing.
It further found that the organisation had failed to constitute a disciplinary committee in accordance with its terms and conditions of service.
The procedures required disciplinary cases involving the executive director or a senior manager to be heard by a committee comprising the board chairperson and two other board members.
The court rejected Kabuye’s claim for Sh191.4m for the unexpired period of his contract, holding that he was not entitled to earnings for work he had not performed.
It directed each party to bear its own costs.
The case was heard on July 3, October 8 and October 23, 2024, before a panel comprising Justice Musana, Michael Matovu, Susan Nabirye and Adrine Namara.