AG opposes Kijjambu office petition

Oct 03, 2010

THE Attorney General on Friday made a counter-attack on interdicted acting Kampala City Council town clerk Ruth Kijjambu’s Constitutional Court petition to block the handover of her office to new town clerk David Naluwayiro.

By Andante Okanya

THE Attorney General on Friday made a counter-attack on interdicted acting Kampala City Council town clerk Ruth Kijjambu’s Constitutional Court petition to block the handover of her office to new town clerk David Naluwayiro.

The Attorney General’s representative, principal state attorney Patricia Mutesi, said the petition was misconceived.

She made the argument at the Constitutional Court before judges Alice Mpagi, Amos Twinomujuni and Augustine Nshimye.

They were hearing an application by Kijjambu for a restraining order against the Attorney General and his agents from compelling her to hand over office to Naluwayiro until the disposal of her petition challenging the Public Service Commission.

Kijjambu, who attended the court proceedings, accused the commission of gender discrimination, after she was omitted from the shortlist for the post. She was represented by Caleb Alaka and Samuel Mujizi.

Mutesi said Kijjambu’s application amounts to abuse of court process because “interim orders are meant to preserve a status quo”.

She stated that Kijjambu’s tenure as acting town clerk had lapsed in March.
Kijjambu had been ordered to hand over office by Friday. However, the ceremony did not take place as the matter was being contested in court.

The Attorney General’s representative also argued that there is currently a substantive town clerk who was duly appointed by the commission, and that Kijambu’s claim of being in office in an acting capacity is false.

On Kijjambu’ contention that she is likely to suffer irreparable damage if she vacated office because she may have no other job, Mutesi argued that the post of senior principal assistant town clerk is already available for her.

Mutesi also stated that asking court to block the handover would amount to condoning inefficiency.

But Alaka said there was documentary proof that Kijjambu had signed official documents as acting town clerk even after March. The judges adjourned the hearing.

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