Government to pay ex- spies Shs 14 billion in terminal benefits

Government has started screening for payment 384 former intelligence operatives who worked with the Internal Security Organisation.

In March , the High Court in Kampala ordered government to pay the former spies Shs72 billion in gratuity and or terminal benefits and allowances but after negotiations between both parties, the amount was reduced to Shs 39 billion.

However, in a press release by the ISO Director General, Col.Kaka Bagyenda and the Finance ministry, government recently released Shs14 billion to the Office of the President as part payment of the terminal benefits to the former spies.

“The Office of the President and the Minister for Security appointed a committee to verify and prepare a list for payments. The secretary, office of the president has started the process of payment to the beneficiaries which will start with physical verification of the beneficiaries,” reads part of the statement by Col.Kaka.

The statement also indicates that the verification exercise has already kicked off ( on Monday December 17) at Nakasero Primary School in Kampala.

Beneficiaries shall be asked to present their national identity cards, discharge certificates, passport size photographs and copies of bank statements whereas those who passed away will be represented by their next of kin.

These are expected to present their death certificates, letters of administration, estate bank statement and local council letters introducing them as administrators of the deceased’s estates.

Background

In 2005, a group of former spies under their umbrella body, the Uganda Veterans Internal Security Organisation (UVETISO) through their representatives Lawrence Jeff Kiwanuka, Jamal Kitandwe and Bernard Kamugisha sued government seeking payment of their terminal benefits and salary areas for having been retired between 1993 and 1995.

Justice Okumu Wengi later awarded them Shs72billion and the amount included three months payment in lieu of notice, leave, transport, medical allowance, general damages and interest at 10% on all monetary awards from the date of filing the case till payment in full plus costs of the suit.

The money however mysteriously reduced from the original Shs72 billion to Shs39 billion without the former operatives’ knowledge promoting them to protest.

“Payment was not forthcoming for nine years after judgment until we discovered that the three, Matovu and Matovu Advocates and AG without our knowledge or consent entered into a consent order on March 13, 2014 reducing the court award from shs72 to shs39billion,” the group said in their petition filed in the High Court in October 2016.