Restaurant runs to court over Parliament food deal

Hellenar's Restaurant and Bar Ltd has dragged the Clerk to Parliament and Parliamentary Commission to High Court demanding over Shs400 million for disobeying a court order issued on 21 December 2018 directing them to allow the canteen to operate until court decides otherwise.

In its application, Hellenar claims that despite the interim order issued by Justice Lydia Mugambe directing Parliament to allow her continue with the operation of the Canteen, the parliamentary commission and the Clerk to Parliament decided to deny her access to operate the canteen.

The director of Hellenar restaurant, Walter Anywar says the actions of the Clerk to Parliament and the parliamentary Commission has made him suffer economic loss and social embarrassment for which he claims for compensation of Shs370 million shillings and a court fine of Shs50 million.

He adds that at the time the interim order was issued (21December18), his restaurant was the one operating the canteen at Parliament.

Hellenar's trouble started after Parliament’s evaluation committee chaired by Sergeant-at-Arms Ahmed Kagoye, dumped her and awarded the deal to a new company called Romeo’s Restaurant and Bar Ltd with effect from 1 January 2019

Although court had ruled that the status-quo remains, the Clerk last closed the Parliament canteen and blocked Hellenar’s Restaurant from accessing the place.

However Hellenar which had been providing catering services to MPs and staff for more than two years, being dissatisfied with the decision to award Romeo tender petitioned High Court accusing Parliament of faulting the law.

She successfully applied for an interim order blocking Parliament and its agents from interfering with her canteen operations until court decides her case.

However after being blocked by Parliament recently, she filed an application for contempt of court.