Makerere Directed to Deposit UGX 3.2 Billion in Industrial Court

Makerere University has been directed to deposit 3.2 Billion Shillings to the Industrial Court. 

The institution appealed to the Industrial Court against the KCCA Labour officer, Hannington Kasaga's decision that had ordered Makerere University to refund the money to its administrative staff arising from salary discrepancies.

Kasaga's decision stemmed from hearing an application by Mary Nakyewa, Bennet Magara, Joseph Kalema, Thomas William Baguma and George Turyamureeba and 96 others in which they demanded an explanation from the university why the M6 scale salary scale was split in 2017 to create M6.1 and M6.2 salary scales.

The labour officer faulted the University for committing an illegality and ordered payment of the staff accrued salary arrears.

Makerere University, however, challenged the decision of the labour officer citing lack of jurisdiction.

Sylvia Nabaggala, the Court Registrar of the Industrial Court while ruling on the matter on Wednesday instructed Makerere to deposit the money to the Court's account, if the application is to proceed.

Through its lawyer Counsel Muzamiru Kibeedi of Kibeedi & Co Advocates, Makerere offered an insurance bond as a commitment to pay but this was rejected by court.

Nabaggala ordered that Makerere pays the money in cash to the Industrial Court Bank account before the hearing of the Appeal case resumes.

In the event of failure to pay the money, court directed that Makerere presents a bank guarantee or submits a bank draft to the industrial court.

It was further ordered that this be done before the next case hearing slated for February 28th.

Vincent Mugisha of Kesiime & Co advocates, the administrative staff's lawyer, says that they are counting on the University to observe the directive by the set time, lest they swing to action. 

According to Mugisha, they will consider applying for a court order to attach or seize an asset pending a legal action.

“We shall apply for an order of attachment if Makerere don't honour the court directive. And this involves orders for attachment of property, including those vehicles, auctioning university land even those buildings in order to recover our clients' money,” Mugisha says.