The High Court Civil Division in Kampala has ordered the Police Director in charge of Logistics, Godfrey Bangirana out of office until the main case challenging his illegal stay in office is disposed of.
Bangirana was dragged to court by a concerned citizen, Isaac Maddo over his continued stay in office after expiry of his term noting it is illegal and unlawful that court needs to order for his vacation.
Justice Henrietta Wolayo also barred Bangirana from drawing any salaries and emoluments from government until the conclusion of the main case in which Isaac Maddo accuses him of wasting taxpayers’ money.
“I, therefore, issue a temporary injunction restraining the second respondent (Bangirana) from holding out as a serving Assistant Inspector General of Police and acting as Police Director in charge of Engineering and Logistics. This temporary injunction order will remain in force until the determination of the main suit or until further orders of this court,” the Judge ruled.
Justice Wolayo also ruled that Bangirana’s continued illegal stay in office puts the image of Uganda Police Force in disrepute and the money he continues to draw causes an irreparable damage to the taxpayers.
Following the expiry of Bangirana’s contract in July 2019, the Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola ordered him to hand over keys and vacate office but the Internal Affairs Permanent Secretary asked him to stay in office until a decision by the Police council in regards his contract is announced.
However, in his suit, Maddo says failure by the Attorney General to advise the Permanent Secretary on his directive to Bangirana was illegal.
“The actions by the Attorney General by failing to advise the Permanent Secretary and other government organs in regards the matter constituted a breach of his duty to government and the public.”
Maddo sought an interim injunction blocking the renewal of Bangirana’s contract, saying he has failed to answer a number of audit queries raised in the Auditor General’s report of 2018.
Bangirana’s Directorate is being investigated on a number of issues including the expenditure of more than Shillings 10 billion on repairing a junk Police Helicopter.
The Directorate was also being investigated for inflating the cost of constructing Natete Police Station from Shillings 10 billion to more than Shillings 100 billion.
In his suit, Maddo wants court to order for AIGP Bangirana’s vacation of office on top of refunding all the salary and emoluments received since the expiry of his contract