Suspended UWA boss petitions court
May 30, 2011
SUSPENDED Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) legal and corporate affairs director Mark Kamanzi has petitioned the High Court in Kampala over alleged unfair treatment.
By ANDANTE OKANYA
SUSPENDED Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) legal and corporate affairs director Mark Kamanzi has petitioned the High Court in Kampala over alleged unfair treatment.
Kamanzi says he was sent on forced leave by outgoing tourism, trade and industry minister Kahinda Otafiire.
He also claims he has been barred from entering his office, which is a violation of his rights.
Kamanzi had earlier also been assigned duties as acting executive director following the sacking of Moses Mapesa last year over alleged mismanagement.
He contends that the board had recommended him as a substantive executive director, but the minister has “insisted on shelving†the matter.
Otafiire cited “gross insubordination†in Kamanzi’s suspension letter of January 24, 2011.
Last week, Kamanzi filed an application for judicial review, arguing that Otafiire did not have statutory powers to suspend him.
A judicial review is conducted by the High Court in relation to proceedings and decisions taken by subordinate courts and inferior tribunals or bodies.
In the letter, a copy of which is attached to Kamanzi’s application, Otafiire directed him to immediately hand over office and “proceed on leave with immediate effect†so that investigations can commence.
The letter was written after Kamanzi allegedly defied orders to vacate office for the acting executive director, Andrew Ggunga Seguya.
Kamanzi wants court to quash the “purported appointment†of Seguya by Otafiire, and re-instate him. He says Seguya is illegally occupying the office since his appointment was not subject to the requisite board of trustees approval.
Court records show that Kamanzi was appointed substantive legal and corporate affairs director on August 1 last year. The board of trustees subsequently appointed him acting UWA executive director on August 12.
Court is yet to summon the respondents to defend themselves against Kamanzi’s allegations.
A probe is currently being conducted on UWA over gross mismanagement and financial impropriety.
SUSPENDED Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) legal and corporate affairs director Mark Kamanzi has petitioned the High Court in Kampala over alleged unfair treatment.
Kamanzi says he was sent on forced leave by outgoing tourism, trade and industry minister Kahinda Otafiire.
He also claims he has been barred from entering his office, which is a violation of his rights.
Kamanzi had earlier also been assigned duties as acting executive director following the sacking of Moses Mapesa last year over alleged mismanagement.
He contends that the board had recommended him as a substantive executive director, but the minister has “insisted on shelving†the matter.
Otafiire cited “gross insubordination†in Kamanzi’s suspension letter of January 24, 2011.
Last week, Kamanzi filed an application for judicial review, arguing that Otafiire did not have statutory powers to suspend him.
A judicial review is conducted by the High Court in relation to proceedings and decisions taken by subordinate courts and inferior tribunals or bodies.
In the letter, a copy of which is attached to Kamanzi’s application, Otafiire directed him to immediately hand over office and “proceed on leave with immediate effect†so that investigations can commence.
The letter was written after Kamanzi allegedly defied orders to vacate office for the acting executive director, Andrew Ggunga Seguya.
Kamanzi wants court to quash the “purported appointment†of Seguya by Otafiire, and re-instate him. He says Seguya is illegally occupying the office since his appointment was not subject to the requisite board of trustees approval.
Court records show that Kamanzi was appointed substantive legal and corporate affairs director on August 1 last year. The board of trustees subsequently appointed him acting UWA executive director on August 12.
Court is yet to summon the respondents to defend themselves against Kamanzi’s allegations.
A probe is currently being conducted on UWA over gross mismanagement and financial impropriety.