By Andrew Irumba
Assistant Inspector of Police Godfrey Bangirana has been dragged by youth under their umbrella pressure group Uganda Youth Democrats (UYD), a youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP) for refusing to hand over office even after his contract expired.
Isaac Maddo, a UYD member, has petitioned court seeking an order for AIGP Bangirana to vacate office and refund all the remunerations and salary he has earned during the period he has overstayed in office since expiry of his contract.
Until expiry of his contract, Bangirana was heading Police’s Logistics and Welfare directorate. But last month he was ordered by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Okoth Ochola to hand over his office, pending renewal of his contract, although he snubbed the directive and his contract has since been renewed.
However, in his application, Maddo, through his lawyers of Kirya and Company Advocates, listed the Attorney General and Bangirana as respondents in the suit he filed in the interest of the public.
In the petition Maddo claims that Bangirana’s continued stay in office and receiving salary plus additional benefits after expiry of his tenure is illegal and unlawful.
Maddo also challenges a July 22nd, 2019 letter from Benon Mutambi, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Internal Affairs, which allows Bangirana to retain office in the interim until his matter is officially solved.
The letter which Mutambi wrote to Bangirana indicates in part that Bangirana’s application for renewal of his contract had been forwarded to Uganda Police Authority for consideration.
Mutambi’s letter states in part thus “Arising out of the above and the need to keep continuity in the Police Force it has been administratively decided that you stay in your office until the renewal of your contract is considered by the appointing Authority.”
But despite all this, Maddo has vowed to adduce evidence about how the Attorney General William Byaruhanga failed to give legal advice to the Permanent Secretary and other government organs in regards to Bangirana’s case.
Court has since given Bangirana and the Attorney General 15 days in which to file their defence.
