Court permits Kulata to challenge UNRA report
UNRA commission of inquiry lead counsel Andrew Kasirye (L) checks documents Ms Sarah Kulata Basangwa (R), the commissioner for land registration in the Lands ministry, brought before the UNRA commission of inquiry. File photo
Kampala- Court has permitted the Commissioner for Land Registration, Ms Sarah Kulata Basangwa, to challenge the validity of the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) Commission of Inquiry report.
Justice Henrietta Wolayo on Tuesday granted Ms Kulata permission to file an application for judicial review of the findings and recommendations made against her by the Commission of Inquiry.
Released in May this year, the Unra probe named Ms Kulata among individuals culpable for causing huge financial loss to Unra due to either negligence or failure to follow procurement regulations.
The permission followed an application in which Ms Kulata stated that the Unra Commission of Inquiry compiled a report in which they recommended that she be sacked from her office as commissioner.
Her lawyers, Ms Kibeedi and Company Advocates, said none of the allegations against her was raised for her to answer when she appeared before the Commission of Inquiry.
“That the applicant is aggrieved by the findings, recommendations and decisions against her as contained in the impugned report which were made contrary to the principles of natural justice,” Mr Kibeedi argues in the application.
On July 28, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Gabindadde Musoke, requested the Unra executive director to formally avail his office a copy of the report.
Last month, Ms Kulata petitioned the High Court, protesting the decision by the Lands minister to halt her promotion basing on the findings of Unra Commission of Inquiry.
She sued the Attorney General, claiming the decision to stay her promotion was unfair as she was not allowed to defend herself over the corruption allegations in the Unra report.
