A fearless Ugandan driver risks losing his job at the country’s judiciary, which is supposed to be the custodian of justice in the country, for using a ‘wrong forum’ to complain about his low pay. Stanley Kisambira has been a driver at the Judiciary for the past 15 years but recently complained that his Shs235,000 salary was too low for him and his family given the high cost of living.
Kisambira got into trouble after an audio recording in which he decried his poor pay and threatened to ram the vehicle he drives into a truck so that he could kill his boss, a high court judge and his bodyguard, went viral.
He was arrested and detained at the Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) where he was charged with offensive communication. It should be remembered that in January 2023, Uganda’s Constitutional Court nullified Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act on use of electronic devices to willfully disturb the peace of another person. Five justices of the court unanimously agreed that Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act was vague and “overly broad to define the actual offence committed.”
Kisambira has since been released on police bond after spending two nights in a cell. But out of detention, the driver has been greeted by a warning from Pius Bigirimana, the permanent secretary and secretary to the judiciary, who wants an explanation from him, the basis of which he will fire or retain him – and most likely take disciplinary action to teach other low-earning staff a lesson and silence them into never complaining about their meagre salaries in a public forum.
Kisambira’s audio recording shook the judiciary so much that PS Bigirimana wrote a notice to him, and also called a press conference to communicate his warning to this driver.
Writing to the driver who is attached to the Mbale High Court, on May 16, 2023, in a notice whose subject was ‘Gross Misconduct,’ Bigirimana, who previously served at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) at a time there were a multi-billion corruption scandal, faulted Kisambira for using an audio clip to “vehemenltly” complain “about the undesirable remuneration.”
He made it clear to Kisambira that while he has a right to complain, he used a forum that contravened public standing orders and damaged the reputation of the judiciary.
“You further indicated in the audio recording that you are very annoyed, disgusted and that you can even ram into a station wagon vehicle and kill a Principal, Body guard and yourself, three people at once which is more painful compared to a bodyguard who kills only one Principal,” said Bigirimana.
“Whereas you did a right thing to express your dissatisfaction, the mode of communication used contravenes Section P-b of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2021, Code of Conduct and Ethics for the Uganda Public Service and the Circular Notice No. 1/2021/2022 which was issued on 1 July 2021 and your action brought the Judiciary Service into disrepute.”
He also accused him of telling lies and of behaving unprofessionally. “Inciting violence, and threatening to intentionally cause an accident is un professional, criminal and punishable in the strongest terms. In addition, uttering false information that you are only paid 200,000/= contravenes section F-r of the Public Service Standing Orders.”
Out of detention, Kisambira now has five days to defend himself. And if Bigirimana finds his explanation feeble, the driver will be thrown out – become jobless. The notice itself sounds like an ‘I will teach you a lesson’ warning.
“Basing on the above facts, this is to direct you to explain your act of gross misconduct within five days from date of receipt of this letter. Failure to do so, will leave me with no option, but to subject you to further disciplinary measures including dismissal from the Judiciary Service,” Bigirimana further stated in his notice copied to Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo, his deputy and the Chief Registrar.
After the audio went viral, the judiciary came out and claimed that a driver earns more than Shs1m in allowances and salary every month, money that is higher than what a graduate secondary school arts teacher earns. (See Details Here).
You can see how much the top officials — or fat cats — in the judiciary earn every month Here.
This is not the first time Bigirimana will be ‘punishing’ an official in the judiciary or attempting to do so. Months ago, he was in a war of words with a pro-Bobi Wine judge (justice) of the Supreme Court. (See Details Here and There). and There.
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