Court staff interdicted for hiding case files
KAMPALA- A court official attached to Masindi High Court has been interdicted over allegations of asking for bribes from court users as well as hiding of their files.
Ms Florence Kaahwa, a process server was interdicted by Mr Kagole Kivumbi, the Secretary to Judiciary in a June 23, 2017 letter to pave way for investigations.
“I (Mr Kagole) acknowledge with thanks receipt of your letter, dated 8 June, 2017 in connection with the complaint against you regarding the alleged hiding of court files and soliciting for bribes from court users at Masindi High Court,” Mr Kagole’s letter reads in part. “After considering the gravity of the allegations and your response, this is to inform you that disciplinary proceedings are being taken against you (Ms Kaahwa) for acts or omission against public interest that bring the service into disrespect and involving turpitude.”
Mr Kagole added in the letter: “Consequently, effective 23 June, 2017, you (Ms Kaahwa) are hereby interdicted from exercising the powers and functions of a process server in the courts of judicature”.
Mr Kagole said the interdiction is in line with the provisions of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders.
During her interdiction, the affected process server will be earning half of her salary; she is also not allowed to access the Masindi High Court premises without the permission of Mr Kagole.
The registrar of Masindi High Court has been asked to ensure that Ms Kaahwa complies with the interdiction letter.
The interdiction of Ms Kaahwa comes at the time when there is an on-going clean-up of the Judiciary of fraudulent staff.
So far, a number of judicial and non-judicial staff have been suspended or prosecuted over alleged graft.
Some have been reshuffled especially errant court clerks who had over stayed at their respective work stations for many years and had become prone to corruption.
