Sacked Museveni aide was trespasser—witness
Oct 09, 2011
STATE House senior supervisor Charles Adome has labelled ex-presidential aide Elizabeth Nabatanzi Lugudde a trespasser, saying she automatically ceased to be an employee after she was sacked by the President.
STATE House senior supervisor Charles Adome has labelled ex-presidential aide Elizabeth Nabatanzi Lugudde a trespasser, saying she automatically ceased to be an employee after she was sacked by the President.
Adome was on Tuesday October 4, testifying at the High Court in Kampala in the case where Lugudde, hitherto special presidential assistant (special duties), sued government in June 2008 for breach of contract.
The trial judge is Elizabeth Musoke. The government senior principal legal advisor the Attorney General was represented by state attorney Susan Adong, while Lugudde was represented by Zawedde Lukwago.
“Since she was no longer employed in the office of the President, she was a trespasser,”Adome said.
He narrated how broke the door to Lugudde’s office and changed the locks, saying he did it after she had repeatedly been asked to vacate. Adome said she was adamant, even after he personally convinced her to abide by orders for her to leave the office.
She claims to have lost earnings of about sh1b, and wants damages for the purported unfair dismissal.
Lugudde claims that State House breached her two-year contract signed in 2007 by terminating it a year before it expired. He office was on Embassy House located on Parliament Avenue in Kampala.
Her appointment was not renewed by the President in a letter dated May 3, 2008, citing alleged indiscipline. Adome said on May 19, 2008, he was instructed by his immediate boss, the undersecretary in the office of the President Hajji Yunus Kakande, to ensure that Lugudde left the office.
Adome said Lugudde had earlier relented, saying she would vacate the office but later changed her mind, saying she would only do so after seeking audience with the President.
He further stated that on May 28, 2008, the locks to the office door were changed, in the presence of the Embassy House security officer. Adome said she later picked all her personal property.
Asked by Zawedde whether he was under undue pressure to effect the vacation order, Adome said he was simply implementing a directive from his boss.
Earlier, another State House official senior personnel officer Benon Twineobusingye explained that her contract could be renewed only after mutual consent, which was not the case.
The lawyers are expected to make written submissions before judgement is delivered on February 3 next year.