Farming contractor ordered to pay ex-employee over sh9m in salary arrears

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The Industrial Court sitting at Gulu High Court has ordered Dede Farming Contractor to pay its former employee over shillings nine million in salary arrears.

In a ruling delivered on July 7, 2025, Justice Anthony Wabwire Musana directed the company to pay its former workshop manager, John Oringo, the outstanding salary. The court also ordered the company to pay the costs of the suit to Oringo.

Oringo dragged his former employer to court after lodging several complaints demanding payment, but no action was taken to address his concerns.

“It is hereby declared that the claimant is entitled to salary arrears of shillings 7.6 million to be paid to him by the respondent (Dede Farming Contractor). The respondent shall pay the claimant (Oringo) the sum of shillings two million in general damages. The claimant shall have the cost of the claim,” Musana said.

Court documents indicate that Oringo was claiming salary arrears for the period from May to December 2020 and from January to December 2021. He argued that he was being paid piecemeal, despite being entitled to a monthly salary of shillings two million. However, the company claimed that Oringo had absconded from work.

The court further noted that there was a contractual obligation between the company and Oringo to pay him a monthly salary, adding that failure to fulfil the obligation amounted to a breach of contract.

“Under section 49 of the Employment Act, every employee is entitled to an itemised pay statement with each statement. The payment statement must be in writing, in a language the employees understand, and it must set out the deductions and their purposes, as well as the net wages payable for the pay period. An employee has the right to all information relating to their salaries,” Musana said.