Police foiled an attempt by court bailiffs to attach Gulu district properties over its failure to compensate parish chiefs, who, were unfairly dismissed from office 15 years ago.
The 89 chiefs dragged the district to court and won the suit in 2011 when the High court in Gulu ruled in their favour and granted them a compensation package of Shs 2.6 billion. The money, which attracts an interest of 8 percent, has since accumulated to Shs 4.4 billion.
In an effort to recover the payment, a team from Select Auctioneers and Court Bailiffs Associates invaded the district headquarters yesterday asking to attach 23 vehicles, several computers and other office furniture. This is the third time that the firm is attempting to attach assets of the district over the same compensation.
A scuffle ensued as Gulu chief administrative officer (CAO) Dorothy Ajwang objected to the attachment saying that the district had not seen any court order to this effect.
Later, Gulu district chairman Martin Ojara Mapenduzi sought for police intervention to ‘save’ the district properties. However, by the time police arrived the bailiffs had dismantled several computers and office furniture.
Mapenduzi accuses the bailiffs of flouting procedures.
“Court bailiffs came with an attachment order to attach 23 vehicles, office equipment, tables and chairs and computers without going through procedures. They started the execution in a very violent way, which is very unethical. So, when I heard the noise and the violence, I came from office from where I was having a meeting and found the situation in total chaos. They broke tables. That is not attachment, that is destruction. The court did not order them to destroy. So I have talked to them and indeed they recognise and decided to go and we decided to meet on Monday.”
Mapenduzi accuses the bailiffs of plotting to take Shs 1.5 billion donated to the district by Northern Uganda Development of Enhanced Local Governance, Infrastructure and Livelihoods (NUDEIL).
“Yesterday [Thursday], they wanted to take Shs 1.5 billion, but we went to court and explained to court that; this money is not for Gulu district local government. It is money for activities in Gulu but it is donor money – project money. Court ruled in our favour that that money can’t be taken. Now, after court ruled, they became very emotional because now they know they can’t take any other money after taking the other one for malaria. The only thing they can get to is the assets, so they immediately went back to court and got an attachment order. We were not given a copy, we just saw them coming. We even did not know what they have come to attach.”
Quirino Ovongiu, the executive director of Select Auctioneers and Court Bailiffs said they secured an order to attach the assets. He however adds that they have called off the execution to pave way for negotiations with the district.