The High Court Industrial Division sitting in Jinja has adjourned the hearing of a labour dispute between former medical staff of Kakira Sugar Limited and their former employer to Thursday, March 12, 2026, after the defence failed to comply with court procedures regarding the submission of trial documents.
The case was scheduled to proceed on Monday before Justice Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha, but the hearing could not continue after the defence team failed to submit sufficient copies of the joint trial bundle required for the proceedings.
The dispute involves a group of former medical staff of Kakira Sugar Limited led by Erisa Igulu and eight others who sued their former employer following the termination of their employment.
The other claimants include Rose Naigaga, Caroline Achom, Marion Eunice Aliano, Justine Kaboye, Justine Abene, Janet Yotawe and Edith Tibagalika.
According to court documents, the former workers accuse their employer of terminating their services without paying their terminal benefits. The claimants allege that the dismissals occurred between April and May 2025 when the company allegedly unilaterally terminated a group of medical personnel.
Represented by their lawyer Julius Naita of Naita & Company Advocates, the former employees filed the case in the Industrial Court after attempts to resolve the matter through the Jinja District Labour Office failed.
During Monday’s court session, counsel for the claimants raised a procedural objection, arguing that the defence had not served him with a copy of the joint trial bundle.
Naita told the court that his submission followed the joint scheduling memorandum he had filed during the previous hearing.
The defence team, led by Allan Ogoye and Mariam Tamale of Okalang Law Chambers, had presented only one copy of the trial bundle to court.
In her ruling, Justice Tumusiime Mugisha faulted the defence for failing to follow earlier court instructions regarding the submission of the required documents.
“You didn’t follow court instructions. I had directed that each person be given a copy, including members of my panel and the claimants’ lawyer,” the judge said.
She directed the defence team to prepare and distribute the required copies of the joint trial bundle to all parties involved, including members of the hearing panel, the claimants’ lawyers, defence lawyers and the court.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to Thursday, when the court is expected to commence hearing the labour dispute.
The case is being closely followed as it raises broader questions about labour rights and the payment of terminal benefits following termination of employment in Uganda’s private sector.
