Lukwago still stuck in court over salary arrears

The lord Mayor Erias Lukwago’s legal battles seeking repayment of his salary arrears of up to Shs 563million are far from over.

This is after mediation efforts in a suit in which the Lord Mayor is seeking repayment of quoted salary arrears by the Kampala Capital City Authority failed to kick off.

The lawyer from the attorney general’s office Johnson Natuhwera informed court that after a number of consultations from the office of the attorney general and solicitor general, it had been resolved that the government was no longer interested in pursuing the mediation process.

Natuhwera added that they were instead ready for a fully protracted trial in which they will give their defense.

The set mediator Christopher Rukyalekere then sent the matter back to the trial court.

Rukyalekere ruled; “The matter is now closed and it will return to the trial judge for further management.”

The Lord Mayor though ready for the full trial expressed dissatisfaction with the court decision, saying the very people that asked for mediation are the ones turning it down.

He says the decision in a way is only aimed at making the legal process longer for him.

He was also dissatisfied with the position of the lawyer representing KCCA who he says diverted from all positions that had been agreed on to allow for mutual settlement when he concurred with the attorney general in support of full trial.

Lukwago filed a suit against KCCA after the institution failed to obey court orders by Justice Lydia Mugambe who in 2014 ordered the same to pay his salary arrears of up to Shs 563million for the period in which he was illegally impeached.