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Kampala.
The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has been thrown out of the case in which former employees of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) sued the government over their terminal benefits worth Shs29 billion.
Justice Stephen Musota of the High Court in Kampala ruled that there was no legal justification to add the IGG as a party to the proceedings since the Attorney General (AG) is legally mandated to handle such matters.
“It would be wrong for courts to confer corporate status upon the applicant when Parliament in its wisdom did not find it necessary to do so. It is not the function of court to confer corporate status or legal capacity or similar powers on public institutions or bodies when the same is not specified in the parent laws,” said Justice Musota.
‘No legal capacity’
The IGG had sought to join the AG in the case where the Uganda Veterans Internal Security Organisation challenged the AG’s refusal to sanction the payment of their benefits.
While asking the ombudsman to meet costs, the judge said the IGG could not be added as party to the case for lack of the legal capacity to bring an action or to be heard in court.
The Shs29 billion that is being sought for by the ex-spy staff is part of the Shs39 billion that government settled with the complainants.
ekasozi@ug.nationmedia.com
