Court stops probe against ex-UIA boss

What you need to know:

  • In court. Ms Jolly Kaguhangire is challenging her interdiction, saying it was based on malicious, frivolous and unfounded allegations.

Kampala. Court has stopped investigations into alleged corruption, abuse of office and insubordination, among other claims made against indicted Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director, Ms Jolly Kaguhangire.
Ms Kaguhangire was indicted in June pending investigations by the UIA board.
However, in an interim injunction issued last week, court asked the UIA board to stop the internal investigations, pending disposal of the main application in which Ms Kaguhangire is challenging the decision of the board to indict her.
Ms Kaguhangire has also previously declined to appear before the same committee, saying she was awaiting disposal of the main application.
The injunction also stopped UIA from effecting the decision to indict her.
“An interim order is hereby issued to restrain the respondent [UIA] from taking any action upon or effecting the interdiction issued by the respondent against the applicant [Ms Kaguhangire] … until the ruling of this court,” the injunction issued by the High Court, reads in part.
Mr Emely Kugonza, the UIA board chairman, yesterday declined to comment on the matter, saying the investigations have been halted and would be guided by a ruling expected today.
The High Court Civil Division is expected today to rule in the matter in which Ms Kaguhangire is challenging her interdiction.
The indicted former executive director sued UIA last month challenging the manner in which she was suspended from her job.
According to court documents, Ms Kaguhangire argues it was illegal for the board to suspend her on claims that were malicious, frivolous and unfounded.
Through her lawyers, Tumusiime, Kabega and Company Advocates, Ms Kaguhangire wants court to declare that the impugned interdiction was illegal and should be declared null and void.
“… filed for judicial review of application 227 and an application for a temporary injunction in which she [Ms Kaguhangire] has challenged the impugned interdiction,” court document indicate.
At the time of her interdiction in June, Ms Kaguhangire had served UIA for only one year having taken over at the investment agency in April 2017.
However, she had severally been accused by some staff and other stakeholders of promoting nepotism, recruiting staff irregularly, abuse of office and victimising some staff in the now impugned restructuring process.
She had also been accused of carrying firearms and moving with armed guard on UIA premises.
However, she denies all the accusations.
Two petitions had by the time her interdiction been sent to the Inspector General of Government by anonymous people asking for investigations into her conduct.