The High Court in Kampala has ordered the lifting of an earlier interdiction of Sarah Kulata, the embattled Lands Commissioner, who was in November last year pushed out of office for alleged corruption.
The Inspectorate of Government had recently opposed the lifting of Kulata’s interdiction, citing a pending appeal before the appellate court in connection to abuse of office charges earlier slapped against her.
But in his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Vincent Zehurikirize held that the Inspectorate of Government had no legal basis stopping the lands ministry Permanent Secretary, Gabindadde Musoke, from lifting Kulata’s interdiction after she had earlier on been cleared of corruption charges before the Anti-Corruption Court.
Justice Zehurikirize ruled that the directive blocking the lifting of Kulata’s interdiction is null and void.
During the hearing of this application about a month ago, Kulata through her lawyers had argued that the IGG’s directive to Musoke was illegal since she was not facing any criminal charges after the Anti-Corruption Court discontinued the earlier abuse of office charges against her which were the basis of her interdiction.
Kulata, who was not personally in court, was represented by her lawyer Michael Oketcha. Oketcha said that his client had finally got justice.
Kulata has been getting a half salary pay for the last seven months as she was on interdiction but with this ruling, she will resume getting her full pay.
On November 7th last year, Kulata then working as Lands Commissioner, was interdicted on the orders of the IGG to pave way for investigations into her alleged corruption case that was before the Anti-Corruption Court.
The IGG had accused Kulata of hastily parceling out land worth over 11 billion shillings to Kikoyongo Investment Limited, who were believed not to be the owners.
However, on January 11th this year, the Anti-Corruption Court discontinued the charges against her before discharging her.
Citing the IGG Act, court ruled that the IGG is barred from prosecuting Kulata since there was a civil matter against her in connection to the very case before another court.
