UEB to pay ex-workers
Sep 13, 2009
UGANDA Electricity Board (UEB) is to pay terminal benefits to the over 600 of its former employees, the Court of Appeal ordered recently.
By Ben Mugisha
UGANDA Electricity Board (UEB) is to pay terminal benefits to the over 600 of its former employees, the Court of Appeal ordered recently.
The ruling by a coram of three judges led by Justice Amos Twinomujuni entitles the former workers to between sh39b and sh45b, even though, the judges did not pronounce the figure demanded by the workers, because the computation process that involved Auditor General and Attorney General had not been finalised.
The judges, however, directed that the file be taken back to the High Court to verify the figure claimed.
The money in dispute arose from the sh39b owed to the claimants since 2007, at an interest rate of 18% for every five months.
The workers were laid off after UEB was bundled into the Uganda Electricity Generation Company, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company and the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company.
Some of the employees had worked with UEB since the 1950s hence entitled to pension and gratuity.
The case was first heard by Justice Arach Amako in 2007, who ruled in favour of the workers but the judgment was not implemented, forcing the complainants to appeal.
Katera and Kagumire Company Advocates, the UEB lawyers, had objected to Justice Amoko’s judgement, arguing that UEB no longer exists.
“UEB no longer exists and since it does not exist, the money of the former employees (terminal benefits) must be paid by Uganda Electricity Distribution Company and it is sister companies,†they reasoned.
But Bashasha and Company Advocates, the workers’ representatives, disagreed, saying Justice Amoko cannot nullify her own judgment.
However, controversy surrounds where the money to effect the payment will come from.
UGANDA Electricity Board (UEB) is to pay terminal benefits to the over 600 of its former employees, the Court of Appeal ordered recently.
The ruling by a coram of three judges led by Justice Amos Twinomujuni entitles the former workers to between sh39b and sh45b, even though, the judges did not pronounce the figure demanded by the workers, because the computation process that involved Auditor General and Attorney General had not been finalised.
The judges, however, directed that the file be taken back to the High Court to verify the figure claimed.
The money in dispute arose from the sh39b owed to the claimants since 2007, at an interest rate of 18% for every five months.
The workers were laid off after UEB was bundled into the Uganda Electricity Generation Company, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company and the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company.
Some of the employees had worked with UEB since the 1950s hence entitled to pension and gratuity.
The case was first heard by Justice Arach Amako in 2007, who ruled in favour of the workers but the judgment was not implemented, forcing the complainants to appeal.
Katera and Kagumire Company Advocates, the UEB lawyers, had objected to Justice Amoko’s judgement, arguing that UEB no longer exists.
“UEB no longer exists and since it does not exist, the money of the former employees (terminal benefits) must be paid by Uganda Electricity Distribution Company and it is sister companies,†they reasoned.
But Bashasha and Company Advocates, the workers’ representatives, disagreed, saying Justice Amoko cannot nullify her own judgment.
However, controversy surrounds where the money to effect the payment will come from.