The High Court in Kampala has awarded three former employees of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) a total of Shs135 million after finding that the agency unlawfully dismissed them through an unfair disciplinary process.
In a judgment delivered on June 10, 2026, acting Judge Bonny Isaac Teko declared that the disciplinary investigations and proceedings against Emmanuel Enatu Ateti, Raymond Odyekoi and Rogers Jjuuko were illegal, unfair and procedurally improper.
The three former employees had challenged UNBS’s disciplinary process through a judicial review application after they were dismissed over allegations of backdating inspection dates and altering application dates on the bureau’s electronic portal.
Court heard that investigations into the allegations were conducted in September 2021, but the report was never disclosed to the employees. Despite the ongoing investigations, the three continued working, underwent performance appraisals and had their employment contracts renewed for fresh three-year terms in 2022.
However, in August 2023, UNBS revived the allegations, commenced disciplinary proceedings based on the undisclosed investigation report and eventually dismissed the employees on May 6, 2024.
Justice Teko ruled that UNBS violated the applicants’ constitutional right to a fair hearing by relying on evidence that had never been disclosed to them.
“In disciplinary proceedings, fairness demands disclosure of material intended to be relied upon against the affected party. Without such disclosure, an employee cannot adequately prepare a defence,” Judge Teko ruled.
The judge also faulted UNBS for taking nearly two years after completing investigations before initiating disciplinary proceedings.
“The prolonged delay in the present matter was unreasonable and inconsistent with fair administrative practice,” Judge Teko said.
He further noted that renewing the employees’ contracts after satisfactory performance appraisals and later dismissing them over the same allegations amounted to inconsistency and procedural unfairness.
“The Respondent’s conduct created a reasonable expectation that the disciplinary issues had either been resolved or were no longer being pursued,” the judge observed.
The court dismissed UNBS’s preliminary objection that the case had been overtaken by events because the employees had already been dismissed, holding that judicial review focuses on the legality and fairness of the decision-making process.
Judge Teko declared that the disciplinary investigation report, subsequent proceedings and dismissals were unlawful because UNBS failed to comply with legal requirements and its own internal procedures.
The court awarded each of the three former employees Shs30 million in general damages and Shs15 million in punitive damages, bringing the total compensation to Shs135 million.
The award will attract 8% annual interest from the date of judgment until full payment. UNBS was also ordered to pay the costs of the application.
