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He had demanded for information on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between a Russian car tracking company and the government.
Mengo Court Chief Magistrate Patrick Talisuna Ngereza passed his ruling last Friday. He held that by denying lawyer Mabirizi the information he sought, they were liable and had to compensate him.
“In regard to the issue that is fishing expedition by the applicant, this contradicts Section 6 of the Access to Information Act. It is thus my view and holding that the applicant’s rights to access to information under Article 41 (1) of the constitution and section 5(1) and 16 of the Access to Information Act were violated by the respondents and they are liable,” he ruled.
He further added, “Having found in issue 1 that the respondent violated the rights of the applicant and they are liable, the applicant is entitled to damages. I would thus grant the applicant General damages for inconvenience of Shs5m on costs.”
Additionally, he said the general rule is that costs follow the event and a successful party should not be deprived of them except for good cause.
Mabirizi’s request sought declarations that the Permanent Secretary at Works Ministry illegally refused his requests to access some information.
Mabirizi wanted to see all procurement correspondences, decisions and the MoU with Joint Stock company and Global Security.
The companies had struck a deal with the government to install tracking devices. This is in all public and private vehicles and motorcycles.
Mr. Mabirizi had contended that on July 23, 2021, he had requested for information about the MoU between the government and the Russian company.
In their defense, the Attorney General claimed they had replied to Mr. Mabirizi’s request. However, they claimed that at the time, he was absent at his address.
The Attorney General also claimed that Mabirizi sought the information from the wrong source. This is because the permanent secretary did not have it.
When contacted yesterday, he said he did this to teach public officers a lesson and not for the money reward.
“This greatest benefit does not lie in the pecuniary value but rather in the lesson taught to public officers who conceal public information in total disregard of the Access to Information Act, 2005, most times not even bothering to respond,” Mabirizi said.
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
