PPDA to compensate employee Shs100m

Ms Mary Pamela Sozi, the former director for finance and administration at PPDA, after the court ruling yesterday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI

Kampala.

Court has ordered the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) to pay compensation to its former employee Mary Pamela Sozi for wrongful and unlawful termination of her contract.

High Court judge Elizabeth Musoke ordered PPDA to pay Shs100 million to Ms Sozi as compensation for untaken leave, gratuity and four weeks net pay. The payment also comprises general damages, refund of monies deducted from terminal benefits, certificate of service and legal costs.

“I agree with the plaintiff that the deduction was indeed illegal and arbitrary. The defendant (PPDA) had no right to make this deduction, regardless of the possible justification or excuse it had. In any case, the plaintiff was not given an opportunity to explain and be heard,” Justice Musoke held yesterday.

The judge ruled that Ms Sozi, a former director of finance and administration, was “a very senior officer who ought not to have been dismissed without the due process”.

Justice Musoke held: “In all fairness, considering that the plaintiff had worked for the defendant in a very senior position and for a long period of time, I agree that it was such an embarrassment for the defendant to have terminated her employment without a hearing.”

Ms Sozi had sued PPDA for unfair dismissal, compensation in lieu of notice, gratuity, unpaid leave, severance allowance, a certificate of service and legal costs. Court heard that PPDA did not follow the proper procedure while terminating the services of an employee.

But PPDA had argued that Ms Sozi’s contract was terminated by the board in exercise of its contractual right and the law.