Ex-KCC workers in fresh fight for Shs92b benefits

Kampala. Former employees of the defunct Kampala City Council (KCC) have renewed the fight to get more than Shs92 billion awarded to them by court for terminal benefits and salary arrears.
A total of 1,013 former KCC workers who were terminated in 2012, held various positions as lawyers, division town clerks, administrative assistants, council and enforcement agents.
In April this year, the High Court before Justice Lydia Mugambe ordered the government to pay 1,013 former KCC workers more than Shs92.2 billion with interest at 6 per cent per year until full payment.
The judge held that the former workers were entitled to damages for wrongful retirement from service and hence be paid their terminal benefits and salary arrears.
Following the court judgment, President Museveni ordered Kampala Affairs minister, Ms Beti Kamya, to take appropriate action to save government from incurring more financial loss.
“An instalment payment plan may be agreed on with the petitioners since the amount involved is huge,” reads the President’s letter signed by Ms Sandra Ndyomugyenyi on behalf the Principal Private Secretary to the President.

Complaints
According to the letter copied to the AG, the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Finance, KCCA executive director and public service Commission, the President noted that the former employees had complained that some of their colleagues have died struggling out of distress and trauma.
“...Some (of the complainants) are struggling to support their families. They believe that these payments will help them to resettle their families and get out of distress,” reads part of the President’s letter.
Mr Brian Segawa, one of the lead complainants and a former administrative assistant said that 48 of their colleagues have since died including former head of enforcement, Mr Vincent Katungi, while others are bedridden.
“All of us were informed about the presidential directive after the meeting with Ms Kamya who assured us that the process of settlement between stakeholders were ongoing. The minister told us that she would write to AG for legal advice but to our surprise, it is now more than a month since the meeting and nothing is being done,” he said.
“We are suffering yet the money were demanding for is our terminal benefits which ought to have been paid immediately. Our lawyer did his part and the President cleared us and our demand is to see that the court order is honoured,” he added.
Neither Ms Kamya nor her deputy, Ms Benna Namugwanya Bugembe (State Minister for Kampala) was available for a comment as their known mobile numbers remained unanswered.