By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Mbale City has lost a court case against Linus Nasimiyu, the acting City Education Officer who was interdicted in December, 2024.
The case that was dismissed by Justice Lubega Farouq, Resident Judge Mbale High Court this week arose from a suit lodged by Mbale City against orders of Equal Opportunities Commission that had stopped it from advertising the job of City Education Officer while the Acting was under interdiction.
The interdiction was a result of allegations that Nasimiyu misused a government vehicle given to the education department. Specifically, she was accused of giving the vehicle to her driver beyond working hours without permission of Ambrose Ochen, the then Town Clerk of Mbale City, leading to an accident.
After her interdiction, Mbale City advertised different vacancies, including the City education officer position, which prompted Nasimiyu to seek legal action at Equal Opportunities Commission.
Nasimiyu argued that it was unfair to advertise her position while she was serving her interdiction, as it would deny her a chance to apply for the same position.
Equal Opportunities Commission intervened, ordering Mbale City to suspend the advertisement until Nasimiyu completes her interdiction.
However, Mbale City challenged this decision in Mbale high court in December last year, only to have the case dismissed.
Justice Lubega also ruled that Mbale City must compensate Nasimiyu on general damages.
Lubega also maintained order of equal opportunity commission of suspending the advert of the city education officer position until her interdiction is over in March this year.
James Kutosi, the Mbale City public relations officer, confirmed to the media on Friday, 14th February, 2025 that the city has lost the case and is now awaiting a decision on the compensation amount.
Kutosi appealed to Nasimiyu to pardon the city, considering her interdiction punishment is set to end in March, and she is expected to resume her duties.
Getting a comment from Nasimiyu was futile by press because her known phones were off.
