Ex-Uganda Prisons sergeant wins Sh44m in unlawful dismissal case

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The Industrial Court has ordered Government to compensate a former officer of the Uganda Prisons Service for unlawful dismissal from service.

In a ruling delivered on March 13, 2026, Wilson Wabwire Musana held that Sergeant Deckens Oculi had been unlawfully and unfairly dismissed from his job, and ordered the government to pay him more than sh44 million in severance pay and damages.

The court also directed that the awarded amount will attract 10% interest per annum from the date of the award until it is fully paid.

According to Oculi, he was dismissed from service on allegations that he had absconded from duty, yet he had been involved in a serious road accident, something he says the Uganda Prisons Service was well aware of.

He denied ever absconding from work, maintaining that the claims made by his employer were false and unjustified to dismiss him.

“The Respondent deprived the Claimant of a hearing, and office charged dismissed the Claimant's case without lawful authority. By reason of those findings, we are inclined to grant the Claimant exemplary damages because if the Respondent’s actions were motivated by a genuine belief that the Claimant had deserted the Uganda Prison Services, there was an elaborate procedure to arrest and try him. We think this to be a proper case for an award of exemplary damages,” Musana said.

The court further noted that the dismissal of Oculi by the Uganda Prisons Service was procedurally unfair, unlawful, and carried out without giving him a hearing.

Ojambo Bichachi, from the chambers of the General of Uganda, who represented the government, denied the claims, arguing that Oculi was lawfully and procedurally dismissed from the Uganda Prisons Service in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations governing the service.

Bichachi further contended that the government could not be held liable for the alleged trauma, financial loss, salary arrears, terminal benefits, pension expectations, or any general, aggravated, or exemplary damages claimed by Oculi. He argued that the claims were speculative, unfounded, and devoid of any legal basis.

He added that the claimant was not entitled to any of the declarations, orders, interest, or costs sought, and asked the court to dismiss the case with costs.